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CANADA, 



AS IT WAS, IS, AND MAY BE. 



BY LIEUTENANT-COLONEL 

SIR RICHARD hTbONNYCASTLE, 

ROYAL ENGINEERS. 



WITH CONSIDERABLE ADDITIONS, 

AND AN ACCOUNT OF RECENT TRANSACTIONS. 

BY 

SIR JAMES EDWARD ALEXANDER, 

K.L.S., ETC. 




IN TWO VOLUME S. 
VOL. I. 



LONDON: 
COLBURN AND CO., PUBLISHERS, 

13, GREAT MARLBOROUGH-STREET. 
1852. 



cfy x 




s\ 



\° 



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\ 



LONDON : 

PRINTED BY WILLIAM TYLER, 

BOLT-COURT. 



TO 



LIEUTENANT-GENERAL THE RIGHT HONOURABLE 

LORD SEATON, 

G.C.B., G.C.H., G.C.M.G. 

COLONEL OF THE 26th (THE CAMERONIAN) REGT. 

LATE GOVERNOR-GENERAL AND 
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF IN CANADA, 

AND LORD HIGH COMMISSIONER OF THE IONIAN ISLANDS. 
HIGHLY DISTINGUISHED AS 

§1 SflMer anfr a Statesman, 



THIS WORK 



IS MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED, BY 



THE EDITOR. 



MEMOIR OF SIR R. H. BONNYCASTLE. 



Sir Richard Henry Bonnycastle, Knight, Son of the 
late John Bonnycastle, Esquire, Professor of Mathe- 
matics in the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, 
was born in 1791 ; he married, in 1814, a daughter of 
Captain William Johnstone. In 1825 he became a 
Captain of the Royal Engineers, and in 1840 was 
advanced to the rank of Lieutenant -Colonel in the 
Army. He served at Flushing in 1809 : in America 
from 1812 to 1815: was commanding Royal Engineer 
in Canada West from 1837 to 1839 : received his 
knighthood for services in the defence of Kingston, in 
Canada, in 1837 : was commanding Royal Engineer in 
Newfoundland : and published a Work on Newfound- 
land— " The Canadas in 1841/' &c. 

Sir Richard was an officer of considerable literary 
and scientific acquirements, zealous in the discharge 
of his duties, an ardent student, and leaving, at his 
demise in 1848, a mass of interesting writings on 



VI MEMOIR. 

Canada — the most important Colony of Great Britain: 
this has now been arranged for publication. 

The sentiments contained in these volumes will, 
doubtless, accord with those of every true patriot and 
loyal subject of Her Majesty the Queen. 



PREFACE. 



This work is a continuation of t€ Canada in 1841 and 
in 1846," and with that work offers to the British reader 
a statement of the affairs of Canada ; sketches of locali- 
ties ; a personal narrative of the late "troubles;" their 
causes and consequences ; the policy pursued there ; the 
effects of the immense public works in progress and 
completed, with anecdotes of personal observations, 
sketches of scenery, and generally every information 
which the Author conceived might be of use to the 
traveller, the military and the political reader, and par- 
ticularly respecting the French Canadians and the 
Upper Canada Militia, and their conduct in the war of 
1812, and the disturbances of 1837 and 1838. It 
is, in short, a personal narrative combined with a 
military and political examination of the Canadas. 

Nearly fourteen years have elapsed since the insur- 
rectionary troubles in Canada, and men's minds are no 
longer in a state of restlessness and uncertainty regard- 
ing the objects and matters of that outbreak. Many, 
very many of both parties in the struggle, have since 
gone to their final account. Canada is now an united 
country, and therefore the true object of its people 



V1U PREFACE. 

should be to prove that sectional differences no longer 
offer pretexts for political enmities. 

The Author having been an officer employed actively 
in Militia duties during that eventful period of Cana- 
dian history, judged it right to place an impartial 
account of " the Rebellion/' as it has somewhat magni- 
loquently been styled, before the public. 

Uninfluenced by party, professing only the good of 
the country, and the upholding of the renown of Bri- 
tain, and possessed of very accurate information on the 
subject, he desired only that it may be considered that 
his work was mere matter of histoiy, as far as that 
Rebellion is concerned, being fully aware that very 
different feelings now possess those persons who figured 
in the ranks of the rebel levies, and that those altered 
feelings would be displayed should United Canada be 
invaded by any foreign aggressor. 

It is a pleasant thing to write a book, still more 
pleasant to print one, and superlatively pleasant to have 
it well received by one's countrymen ; but an author, 
however he may satisfy his own feelings, soon finds 
that he has merely started from the point whereat he 
trusted he might fairly hope, as one candidate for fame, 
that his efforts w r ould be crowned with at least partial 
success. That inexorable judge, the public, discovers 
many things in the course wherein the aspirant is 
wanting, and tells him plainly of his deficiencies with- 
out reserve and without remorse. He hears the truth, 
undistorted by personal vanity or by friendly com- 
mendation, and thus is enabled to rectify on a future 
occasion, as far as in him is, omissions, blunders, and 
errors. 



PREFACE. IX 

When the Author wrote the four preceding volumes 
of " Canada in 1841 and 1846/" it was merely with 
the intention of amusing the British public, from the 
results of extensive journeys over the vast regions of 
Canada in an official capacity ; that country having then 
just emerged from a state of disquietude and distrac- 
tion which had forcibly attracted the attention, not 
only of Great Britain, but of Europe and of America. 

The public in both continents received those mere 
"Travelling Sketches" so favourably, that he deter- 
mined to ransack his notes and memory once again, to 
open out further information, and he found very soon, 
on comparing the various notices of the work which 
had appeared from the periodical press, that there was 
a general desire to be made acquainted with as much of 
the real state of Transatlantic Britain as his opportu- 
nities could have afforded. 

Duty had called him to the neglected and compara- 
tively unknown colony of Newfoundland, and as he 
conceived that it was by nature part and parcel of the 
vast territory of Canada, and that its future interests 
were strongly linked with that magnificent portion of 
Transatlantic Britain, he imagined it would be accept- 
able to offer his countrypeople a plain unvarnished 
account of the most ancient province of British Ame- 
rica, before he again took the field in Canada, and to 
this course his inclination bent him the more, as a 
military governor of high talent and renown had just 
occupied that seat from which naval dominion for 
several centuries had promulgated maritime laws and 
discipline; and His Excellency Sir John Harvey, a 
name so well-known in Canada, had afforded him 



X PREFACE. 

every means of obtaining correct statistical information 
respecting the oldest colony of England.* 

In the present work it does not appear necessary to 
enter into these regularly scientific and statistical 
details which occupy so much of the two volumes 
respecting Terra Nova, nor to give long and tedious 
chapters on the progressive history of a country w 7 hose 
conquest, by Wolfe, has rendered its historical facts so 
much more prominent and better understood than that 
of Newfoundland. 

More recent events, with a glance at the future, and 
a few sketches of the earlier history ; a general account 
of the importance of those improvements now carry- 
ing on; examinations of the character of the popu- 
lation, with the interests w T hieh render politics so 
prominent a feature of Canadian society, will there- 
fore constitute what is now to be placed before 
the reader, to whom the Author trusted it might 
prove of utility. It is an unbiassed statement from 
a writer of principles strictly Conservative, and at 
the same time professing no extreme opinions, — 
this, it is to be hoped, will be an additional 
inducement for perusal and reflection, whilst, it may 
possibly be hereafter of use in assisting the rising 
greatness of Transatlantic Britain. It helped to pass 
the tedious winters of Canada in arranging its pages : 
the Author's military exile, at least, was thus light- 

* Before his work could go to press, he had the singular good 
fortune of finding his views as expressed in the hook named " New- 
foundland in 1842" corroborated, verified, and borne out in His 
Excellency's splendid speech upon the opening of the Legislature 
in January 1843, — a speech which will make Newfoundland a real 
and not a nominal colony of Great Britain. 



PREFACE. XI 

ened of a very considerable share of monotony ; but as 
a clever modern writer of historical fiction has observed, 
much deep reasoning upon politics must not be ex- 
pected from one whose mind is necessarily and usually 
employed on professional pursuits that tend to im- 
prove it ; which pursuits also tend to make one 
know or care little about local Colonial politics, the 
very worst and most complex of all, whilst the politics 
of an English gentleman abroad and those of a British 
officer, everywhere, are generally very different in their 
scope, embracing the whole British Empire, but resolv- 
able into the limits of honour and respect for " The 
Queen, the Laws, and the Government," with a firm 
determination to support them, in the language of the 
Ordnance Military Motto, Ubique, or wherever the 
fame and glory of our Monarch and our Country 
require. 



CONTENTS. 



VOLUME THE FIRST. 
CHAPTER I. 

CANADA AS IT WAS BEFORE THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR 1837. 

Condition of the Province of Quebec until the division into the two 
Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, in 1791 . . . p. 1 

CHAPTER II. 

Condition of the two Provinces, from 1791 to the year 1812 . 31 

CHAPTER III. 

The War in Canada, from 1812 to 1815 62 

CHAPTER IV. 

Military and political reasoning upon the American aggression, 
and its consequences in Canada 97 

CHAPTER V. 

Condition of Canada from the Peace in 1815 to 1826, and first 
very marked Revolutionary symptoms towards 1837 . . .109 

CHAPTER VI. 

State of Upper Canada from 1826 until towards the end of the year 
1837, when the first disturbances occurred . . . .120 



CONTENTS. Xlll 

CHAPTER VII. 

State of Lower Canada from 1826 to 1837, when the Rebellion 
broke out p. 169 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Civil and Military Condition of both the Canadas in 1837 . 182 

CHAPTER IX. 

The close of the year 1837, and the Outbreak of the Lower Canada 
Rebellion 220 

CHAPTER X. 

Rebellion in Upper Canada, in November and December, 
1837 254 



VOLUME THE SECOND. 
CHAPTER I. 

The occupation of Navy Island by citizens of the United States 
and Canadian outlaws 1 

CHAPTER II. 

The actual Invasion of Upper Canada by the Sympathizers and 
Brigands, and a simultaneous attempt on both Provinces contem- 
plated 37 

CHAPTER III. 

The projected capture of the Key of Upper Canada, Kingston, 
lately the capital of the Canadas, and the behaviour of the 
Militia 68 

CHAPTER IV. 

The subsequent Invasions and disturbances in both Provinces, 
in 1838 and 1839 110 



XIV CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER V. 

Condition of both Provinces in the year 1839, and until the 
Union p. 182 

CHAPTER VI. 

The Union — Government of Lord Sydenham — His Death, and 
Government of Sir Charles Bagot, embracing the years 1840, 1841, 
and 1842 198 

CHAPTER VII. 

Reflections on the probable future destinies of Canada, and general 
polity of the Colonial Empire of Great Britain in Northern 
America . . 240 



SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER. 

Serious riots in Montreal in 1849 — Destruction of the Houses of 
Parliament — The Governor- general assailed — Death of Lieutenant- 
general Sir Benjamin D' Urban 265 



APPENDIX. 

New British Possession Act 279 

Commercial relations of Quebec with Great Britain and the 

Colonies 298 

Arguments of Mr. Merritt respecting the Transit Trade . . 300 
The Forwarding Trade — Ship Canals . . . . 308 

Tables for 1850. 



MAPS. 



Sketch of the Country adjacent to Montreal, and the principal seat 
of the Insurrection. To face Chap. I., Vol. 1. 

Sketch, Map of Canada West. To face Chap. I., Vol. 2. 



CANADA 

AS IT WAS, IS, AND MAY BE. 



CHAPTER I. 



CANADA AS IT WAS BEFORE THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR 1837. 

Condition of the Province of Quebec until the division into the two 
provinces of Upper and Lower Canada in 1791. 

'" Res ardua vetustis novitatem dare," and never did 
author impose upon himself a greater task than that 
of endeavouring, in this age of railroads and steam- 
boats, to bring before the mind's eye events which have 
long slumbered in oblivion. 

Man is now a locomotive animal, both as regards 
his faculties of mind and of motion, and unless in the 
schools, in the cabinet, or in amusing fictions, founded 
on fact, it is somewhat difficult to find real readers 
of mere history. 

Canada and Canadian affairs have however succeeded 
in interesting the public of America and of Europe. 
The " go-a-head M English readers ia the New World, 
because Canada would be a very desirable addition to 

VOL. I. B 



I CANADA, 

the already overgrown republic founded by the pilgrim 
fathers, and Europeans, because the preponderating 
French interest looks with a wistful eye to La nation 
Canadienne on the one hand with regret, and to Great 
Britain on the other with the utmost jealousy that 
she should have succeeded in laying the foundations 
of an empire which bids fair to perpetuate the glories of 
Anglo - Saxon transatlantic dominion ; whilst the true 
Briton regards Canada as the apple of his eye, and sees 
with pleasure and with pride that his country, fore- 
warned by the grand error committed at Boston, and 
so prophetically denounced by Chatham, has obtained 
a fairer and more fertile field for British legitimate 
ambition. 

A history of Canada is not now attempted, neither 
is it intended to enter deeply into the various singular 
events which arose from time to time after the con- 
quest by Wolfe until the present day ; but, in order to 
elucidate the reasons which have led to the troubles 
of 1837, it is proposed only to analyze the matter; 
and as the author resided in Canada from the 
autumn of 1826 to the winter of 1839, and again from 
1843 to 1847, he was perhaps able to see effects 
arising from causes which might have escaped the 
notice of those less conversant with Canadian affairs. 

Canada, as is well-known, was French both by 
claim of discovery and by the more powerful right of 
possession. 

Stimulated by the fame of Cabot, and ambitious to 
be the pilots of the Meta Incognita, that visionary 
channel which was to conduct Europeans to the golden 
Cathay, and to the rich spice islands of the East, 



CANADA. 6 

French adventurers eagerly sought the coveted honours 
which such a voyage would not fail to combine with 
overflowing wealth. France, England, Spain, Portugal, 
and Italy, sent forth those daring spirits whose hopes 
were uniformly crushed either by encountering the 
unbroken line of continental coast, or were dashed to 
pieces amidst the terrors of that true Cimmerian region 
where ice and fog contend for empire. Of all these 
heroic navigators, who would have rivalled Columbus 
under happier circumstances, none were successful, 
even in a limited sense, in attempting to reach China 
by the Northern Atlantic, except the French, who may 
fairly be allowed the merit of having traversed nearly 
one-half of the broadest portion of the New World by 
the discovery of the St. Law-rence and its connecting 
streams. Even in our own day, nearly four centuries 
after the Columbian era, the idea of reaching China 
by the north has not been abandoned, and it is very 
possible that, with the assistance of steam, or some more 
easily managed power, it will yet be achieved. 

About the year 1837, a person of very strong mind, 
who edited the Patriot, a newspaper published at 
Toronto, — Mr. Thomas Dalton, — was looked upon as a 
mere enthusiast because one of his favourite ideas, 
frequently expressed, insisted that many years would 
not elapse before the teas and silks of China would be 
transported direct from the shores of the Pacific to 
Toronto, by canal, by river, by railroad, and by steam. 
Ten years scarcely passed since he first broached such 
a preposterous notion, as people of limited views uni- 
versally esteemed it, and yet he nearly lived to see an 
uninterrupted steamboat communication from Europe 

b 2 



4 CANADA. 

to Lake Superior, — a consummation which those who 
laughed at him then never even dreamt of.* Two 
thousand miles of water-road have been formed, and 
a future generation will see the white man toiling over 
the rocky barrier which alone remains between the 
great " Superior " and the vast Pacific, to open the 
China trade ; and as the arms of England have over- 
come those of the Celestial Empire, no doubt can 
remain that England will soon colonize the shores 
south of Russian America, in order to retain the supre- 
macy of British influence both in India and in China, 
and that the vast and splendid forests north of the 
Columbia river will ere long furnish the dockyards 
of the Pacific coast with the inexhaustible means of 
extending our commercial and our military marine. 

And who were the pioneers, who cleared the way for 
the enterprize ? Frenchmen ! — the hardy, the enduring, 
and the chivalrous Gaul penetrated from the Atlantic 
in frail barks as far as those barks could then carry 
him, and where their services ceased, with ready courage 
adopted the still more fragile transport afforded by the 
canoe of the Indian, in which he traversed the greater 
part of the Northern Continent, and actually discovered 
all that we now know, and much more, which has since 
lapsed into oblivion. 

But his genius was that of conquest, and not that 

* McTaggart, — a lively Scotch civil- engineer, who wrote in 1829 
an amusing work called " Thiee Years in Canada,"— -was even more 
sanguine on this subject ; and as he was a clerk of works on the 
Rideau Canal, naturally turned his attention to the practicability of 
opening a road by water with the lakes and rivers to Nootka Sound, 
or above the Columbia, so as to connect the Atlantic and Pacific 
shores. 



CANADA. & 

of permanent colonization. Trammelled by feudal laws 
and observances, although he extended his national 
domain beyond his most ardent desire, yet he took 
no steps to ensure its duration, and thus left the 
Anglo-Saxon to consolidate the structure of which he 
had merely laid the extensive foundation. Even now, 
amidst all the enlightenment of the Christian nations, 
the descendants of the French in Canada shake off the 
dust of feudalism with painful difficulty, and instead 
of quietly yielding to a better order of things, prefer 
to dwell, from sire to son, the willing slaves of cus- 
toms derived from the obsolete decrees of a despotic 
monarchy. 

The Frenchman was, however, adapted by his nature 
to win his way, either by force or friendship, with the 
warlike and untutored Indian. Accommodating him- 
self with ease to the nomadic life of the tribes, con- 
trasting his lively and gay temperament with the 
solemn taciturnity and immovable phlegm of the savage, 
dazzling him by the splendour of his religious cere- 
monies, and coinciding in his recklessness of life, 
equally a warrior and equally a hunter, unmoved by 
the dangers of canoe navigation, for which he seemed 
as well fitted as the red man himself, the restless Gaul 
was everywhere feared or everywhere welcome. 

The Briton, on the contrary, cold as the Indian, but 
not so wary, accustomed to comparative luxury and 
ease, despising the son of the forest as an inferior caste, 
accompanied by no outward and visible sign of the 
religion he would fain implant,, unaccustomed to yield 
even to his equals in opinion, unprepared for alternate 
seasons of severe fasting or riotous plenty, and wholly 



6 CANADA. 

without that sanguine temperament which causes mirth 
and song amidst the most severe toil and privation, he 
was not the best of wanderers in the wilderness, nor 
was he received with open arms by the American 
aboriginal natives, until the sterling value of his cha- 
racter had become thoroughly apparent. 

To this day, w T here in the interminable wilderness all 
trace of French influence is buried, the Indian reveres 
the recollections of his forefathers respecting that gal- 
lant race, and wherever the canoe now penetrates the 
solemn and silent shades of the vast west, the Bois 
hrule, or mixed offspring of the Indian with the French, 
may be heard awakening the slumber of ages with 
carols derived from the olden France, as he paddles 
swiftly and merrily along. 

The Author has observed, that as far as his expe- 
rience of travelling in the wilds of the west can go, 
and it was rather extensive, he should always, in 
future journeys, provide himself with the true French 
Canadian boatmen or voyageurs, or with the Indians. 
With either he should feel perfectly at ease; and 
having crossed the mountain waves of Huron in a 
Canada trading-canoe with both, should have less 
hesitation in trusting himself in the endless forest 
under their sole guidance and protection.* 

But we must not forget the main object of this 
chapter, which is to point out the state of Canada prior 
to the memorable year 1791. 

The honour of the discovery of Canada, instead of 

* This chapter, as far as this point, was published in Canada in 
1846, and is here reintroduced in order to take up the thread of con- 
nection, as a clue to the design of the work. 



CANADA. 7 

being attributed to Jacques Cartier, should be 
conferred upon Jean Denys, who, stimulated by 
Cabot's splendid voyage to Newfoundland, and the 
eastern coast of the United States, sailed from Harfleur 
in 1506 with his pilot, Camart, and having visited 
Newfoundland entered the Gulf of St, Lawrence, and 
furnished the first map of that region and the adjacent 
shores. 

He was followed, in 1508, by Thomas Aubert, who 
sailed from Dieppe for Newfoundland, and passing 
through tha gulf discovered the River St. Lawrence 
and the Canadian country to a considerable extent, 
on his return taking with him some of the Indians, 
who were exhibited to the wondering gaze of the 
Parisians. 

These discoveries, with the increasing importance of 
the cod-fishery of Newfoundland, caused an earnest 
desire to know more of the interior of the continent by 
all the maritime nations, and accordingly that island 
was partially visited and settled by the fishermen of 
France, of Portugal, and of England ; and as the 
St. Lawrence bade fair to unravel some portion of the 
unknown passage to India, both England and France 
encouraged explorations on a larger scale ; and Master 
Thorn e, a merchant of Bristol in 1527, and Jacques 
C artier in 1535, both undertook to penetrate the 
continent. 

The voyage of the Englishmen for the golden Cathay 
was most disastrous, and ended without any good 
result ; that of the Frenchman was crowned with 
success. He explored the mighty St. Lawrence (the 
father of North American rivers, perhaps the most 



8 CANADA. 

useful and splendid stream in the known world), for 
three hundred leagues, when his adventurous voyage 
was terminated by the current of St. Mary and the 
rapids of Montreal. He landed, built a fort, entered 
into alliance with the native Indians, and wintered in 
Canada. 

Cartier named his discovery " La Nouvelle France/' 
and his settlement Mont Royale, which was then an 
Indian village of great extent, and called Hochelaga ; 
but he somewhat treacherously carried off the sachem, 
or principal chief, Donnaconna, and several of the 
leading warriors, and returned in triumph to France, 
where Donnaconna was made a Christian, and lived 
only four years afterwards. 

The English claim the discovery of Nova Scotia and 
Cape Breton equally with the French, whose king, 
having determined to secure Canada, sent out Frangois 
de la Roque, Seigneur de Itoberval, m 1542, as his 
lieutenant-general and viceroy, to colonize the banks of 
the St. Lawrence, and as governor of all the discovered 
parts of North America, including Newfoundland. 
Cartier preceded this nobleman in 1540, to pave the 
way for him. Roberval built a fort about four leagues 
above the Isle of Orleans, or Isle of Bacchus, — which 
latter designation it received on account of its extreme 
fertility, and the abundance of wild vines in its woods. 
The river Jacques Cartier, so well known from Dr. 
Henry's description of its splendid salmon fishing, is 
now the sole memento of the enterprise of a navigator 
who gave France a new world. 

The adventures of Roberval, who had as many high- 
sounding titles conferred upon him as Shakspere 



CANADA. 9 

makes Joan of Arc sneer at in viewing the body of 
Talbot,— 

" The Turk that two-and-nfty kingdoms hath," 

wrote not so many; and, as in the case of Talbot, 
with him they perished, for in 1549, the viceroy, his 
brother, and a numerous train of settlers and followers, 
were lost at sea on their way to Canada, This 
misfortune so discouraged France, that for fifty years 
all aid to Canada was withheld, until Martin Frobisher, 
who made three voyages in 1576, 1577, and 1578, 
to discover the Meta Incognita, returned from each 
adventure with his vessels laden w r ith supposed trea- 
sures; for such was the state of the sciences of 
chemistry and mineralogy in those days, that in one 
voyage alone two hundred tons of horse gold was 
brought to England for pure metal. This horse gold 
was probably iron pyrites, of which great quantities 
exist on the eastern shores of Newfoundland and 
Labrador.* 

The Indians had never forgiven the treachery of 
Cartier in forcibly carrying off Donnaconna, and thus 
both Cartier and Roberval experienced great difficulties 
in their attempt at colonization; but in 1581, in 
consequence of the activity of the English, both in 
discovery and in the bank fishery, the French monarch 
renewed the communication w T ith New r France; and 
Queen Elizabeth, in 1583, sent Sir Humfrey Gilbert to 
colonize and possess Newfoundland. 

* Particularly in Trinity Bay, in Newfoundland, at Catalina, from 
which place I have had some of the most splendid perfect cubic 
crystals of sulphuret of iron, above an inch in diameter and glittering 
as gold. 

B 3 



10 CANADA. 

The trade in the St. Lawrence soon became valuable; 
and as the English had, by Raleigh's means, extended 
their fame on the continent of America, the French 
pushed their Canadian discoveries to the utmost avail- 
able bounds. 

Two remarkable circumstances have been recorded 
of this period, one the mention of the practice of 
smoking tobacco, as early as 1535, in the voyages of 
Cartier, who describes the modes in which the Cana- 
dian Indians used it, and the other the discovery of 
a profitable trade in ivory and oil from the walrus of 
the St. Lawrence, Newfoundland, and Labrador. At 
Ramea, a small island off the coast of Newfoundland, 
fifteen thousand of these huge sea-horses were killed 
in one year by a small fishing vessel, the tusks fetching 
even a higher price than those of the elephant. 

This denizen of the rocky isles and of the adjacent 
ocean has now entirely disappeared, having been 
literally exterminated both in Newfoundland and in 
the St. Lawrence. 

The Marquis De la Roche, in 1593, was appointed 
Governor-General of Canada by Henry IV., and 
ordered to conquer and colonize, but he did very little 
towards either, and was succeeded by Monsieur 
Chauvin in 1600, who first visited Tadousac, at the 
mouth of the Great Saguenay,* which is still neglected, 
although opening into a magnificent country. In 
1601 he proceeded as far as Trois Rivieres, now a 
neat little town on the St. Lawrence, which I have 



* The enterprising and intelligent merchant, William Price, Esq., 
of Quebec, has here large wood-cutting establishments. — Editor. 



CANADA. 1 1 

already noticed, and which promises hereafter to be of 
some importance. 

In 1603 Pierre du Gast, one of the household of 
Henry IV., received the patent of Lieutenant- General 
of all territories in America lying between the fortieth 
and fiftieth degrees of north latitude; and Champlain, 
a name much better known, explored the Saguenay 
country in the same year. 

We have now arrived at an important era. Samuel 
Champlain de Brouage was sent out from France, in 
1608, with powers to make, at all risks, a permanent 
colony in Canada; and such a -task could not have 
been confided to better hands. He first carefully 
examined the coasts of Acadia, or Nova Scotia, as it 
was afterwards named, then the shores of the St. 
Lawrence, until he pitched upon the site of his 
settlement at Cape Diamond. 

We shall quote the words of this illustrious navi- 
gator : " Trouvant un lieu le plus estroit de la riviere 
que les habitans du pays appellent Quebec, j'y bastir 
et edifier une habitation, et defricher des terres, et faire 
quelques jardinages." 

Hence arose that city which is now one of the 
handsomest to look at from the water probably in the 
world, and which is also the principal fortress in all 
America. 

Long and learned have been the disquisitions upon 
the origin of the words Quebec and Canada, and at 
last it has been strongly asserted that Quebec is 
derived from a place in Normandy, as the seal of the 
Earl of Suffolk, given in u Edmonstone's Heraldry," 
has that word upon it ; and many places on the 



12 CANADA. 

coast of that part of France have the termination bee, 
beak, bill, or cape, as nez is nose, ness, or promontory. 
Suffolk was one of Henry the Fifth's great commanders, 
in his Gallic wars, and probably had a fief of that 
name conferred upon him.* 

But however that may be, no such place of any 
note whatever now exists in France, and Champlain 
having declared that he named his settlement after 
an Indian village appears conclusive, although the 
termination of words in a harsh consonant, like e or k, 
is not very common in any Indian dialect ; the Huron 
language has, however, many beginning with k, pro- 
nounced as in the Greek. 

Canada, I think, is satisfactorily derived from a very 
universal Indian word, signifying a town, village, or 
collection of wigwams. Thus, Canadaigua, in the 
Genesee country, was formerly a large Indian settle- 
ment, and strangers coming so unexpectedly upon the 
red men, as the first adventurers did, would naturally 
have the large villages pointed out to them. 

My own name, as given me at a council of the 
Mohawks, during the disturbances of 1837, is Ana- 
daesc, " he who summons the town," and many other 
corroborative cases might be cited which have been 
ably handled by the late much lamented Andrew 
Stuart, Esq., of Quebec, in the " Transactions of the 
Natural History Society," in that city. 

The Huron name of the promontory of Quebec is 

Tiant-ontarili, " the place of the narrowing, or the 

* Bee was a common Norman terminal. Near Aylesbury, at 
Whitchurch in Buckinghamshire, may be seen the site of an im- 
mense castle built at the conquest by the Lord of Bolbec, a Norman 
follower of William. 



CANADA. 13 

straits/' most applicable to the condition of the St. 
Lawrence just beyond Cape Diamond ; and Stadaconi 
was the original designation of the confluence of the 
St. Charles with the St. Lawrence on the lower ground 
of Quebec. In the Micmac tongue, now confined to 
the Atlantic regions of the St. Lawrence, the word 
Quebec is said to signify the shutting in of the river, 
perfectly descriptive of the great harbour between Cape 
Diamond, Point Levi, and the Isle of Orleans. The 
Micmac language abounds in terminal consonants, as 
Paspebiac, "the broken bar or beach;" Cascapediac, 
"the strong current;" Matapediac, "the volume of 
waters descending from a great marsh," &c. These 
are all places in the Gulf of Gaspe, or Bay of Chaleurs ; 
and Mr. Stuart says that the terminating syllable of 
Quebec is not at all at variance with the phonetic ana- 
logies of that language, whilst it is more than pro- 
bable that this Atlantic tribe knew, or even occupied, 
the country near the southern coast of Quebec Basin. 

Quebec was at first a colony of the Huguenots or 
Protestants ; who were not, however, long allowed to 
remain in quiet possession either of their trade, or of 
their religion, for they fell under the ban of the tyrant 
Richelieu, — who, more king than his royal master, in 
1627, instituted an association called, " The Company 
of the Hundred;" to which most extensive com- 
mercial powers were given, and whose patron was 
the Cardinal himself. 

This scheme, planned like all those the powerful 
and sagacious mind of the French Wolsey instituted, 
was so constructed as to have raised Canada to sudden 
eminence; but the English monarch, Charles I., 



14 CANADA. 

foreseeing the danger to which the colonies of Eng- 
land would thereby be exposed, afterwards commenced 
that series of American warfare against France which 
was to be consummated by his more remote successor 
George III. 

David Kertk, a Dutch adventurer, accordingly re- 
ceived a sort of roving commission to annoy, spoil and 
conquer the French transatlantic plantations. Kertk 
having been engaged against Canada since 1628, and, 
in 1629, Champlain, who commanded at Quebec, was 
forced, from the want of resources, to capitulate to 
him and his brother Louis ; who both gave such favour- 
able terms to the French settlers, that they generally 
chose to remain in the country as subjects of the 
British crown.* 

From want of an accurate knowledge of the great 
importance to England of the conquest of all the 
North American settlements, Charles, by the treaty of 
St. Germain, in 1632, restored Acadia, Cape Breton, 
and Canada to Louis XIII. t 

Hence arose the bitter animosities which existed, for 
a hundred and thirty years afterwards, between the 
British colonists of North America, and the settlers 
in the French domain. Hence arose the immense 
empire which France founded, from the Gulf of St. 

* A curious description of the taking of Quebec by Kertk, or as 
he is usually called Kirk, is given by Father Hennepin in a work, 
now rather scarce, published in 1699, and dedicated to William III., 
in which is a view of that city when it surrendered on the 20th of 
July, 1629. 

f Though this is denied by the representatives of William Alex- 
ander, Earl of Stirling, who had obtained a grant of the ancient 
L'Acadie. — Editor. 



CANADA. 15 

Lawrence to the mouths of the Mississippi. Hence 
arose the necessity of long, bloody, and expensive wars 
to England. Hence the conquest of Canada and the 
prostration of French power in North America, — from 
which resulted the total loss of British dominion over 
thirteen of her largest, healthiest, and most important 
colonies ; and we shall soon have to depict some other 
and nearer results of this fatal political error. 

The French, from the treaty of St. Germain, remained 
in peaceable occupation of New France, and wholly 
undisturbed, excepting by the Indians. Montreal was 
founded in 1625, religious edifices and associations 
sprang up, discoveries were constantly making, and 
Canada was rapidly advancing in importance ; and this 
prosperity was unclouded, save by conflicts with the 
terrible Iroquois, who spared neither the French nor 
their red allies, and nearly exterminated the Hurons in 
1649, whilst in 1654 they merely left the name of 
Lake Erie as a memento of one of the most numerous 
of the lacustrian (from living on the lakes) tribes. 
These fell and indomitable warriors spread the terror 
of their prowess from Superior to Acadia, the western 
nations crouched at the sounds on their war-path, and 
the timid Micmacs of the Atlantic hid themselves in 
caves from their unsparing fury. Where are now 
the valiant, the remorseless tyrants of the American 
forests ? — Where are they ? The grave that entombed 
the Huron and the Erie has closed over the Iroquois, 
and even Indian history is silent and records not the 
period at which the greatest nation of the Canadian 
wilderness ceased entirely to be. The Iroquois, his 
wars, his glory, his power, and his pride, are as un- 



16 CANADA. 

remembered things of long bygone ages, although not 
more than three-quarters of a century have elapsed 
since that very name caused in the hearts of the 
colonist of France and his Indian allies the palsy of 
fear. 

Two remarkable events are recorded in North 
American history in 1660 and in 1664. In the first- 
named year France sent a bishop to Canada, Fran£ois 
de Laval, and supplanted the reign of the Jesuits there 
by the introduction of other monastic institutions. 
In the latter year a more humble instrument for the 
propagation of the Christian faith in New England, 
the Rev. John Elliott, published an Indian translation 
of the Bible, in the Mohawk language. 

In 1662, the Company of the Hundred Associates> 
unable to carry out the objects of their institution, 
surrendered their patent to the King ; who transferred 
their powers and claims to the West India Company, 
founded by Colbert. 

Wars with the Indians occupy much of Canadian 
history until 1667; when a peace was patched up which 
lasted longer than usual, and enabled an enterprizing 
priest, Father Perrot, to penetrate twelve hundred miles 
westward, from Quebec by the St. Lawrence and the 
Lakes; and in 1671, Lake Superior witnessed a grand 
council between the French and the Western tribes, — 
for so far had French power then extended. 

To check the Indians, however, next year the Governor 
of Canada began to lay out a fort on Lake Ontario, 
which was resumed in 1673 by Count Frontenac, who 
erected a small fortress; from which Kingston, the 
late capital of Canada, derives its origin, and which 



CANADA. 17 

is also the county town of a district still bearing that 
French nobleman's name. 

A small work for the fur-trade was also erected, ten 
years afterwards, at Michilimackinac, near the extremity 
of Lake Huron, and the French pushed their dis- 
coveries to within a short distance of the Gulf of 
Mexico by the Mississippi. This discovery was made 
by Marquette, a priest, and Joliet, a citizen of Quebec ; 
and was completed by Father Hennepin and by La Salle 
in 1680 and 1682, — the former ascending the great 
river as far as the Falls of St. Anthony, and the latter 
descending it to the sea, where he lost his life after- 
wards in a mutiny. This enterprizing man built a 
vessel of ten tons burthen on Lake Ontario, and one of 
sixty on Lake Erie, in 1678 and 1679, — the precursors 
of the vast navy which now rides on those inland seas. 
He gave his monarch's name to the immense tract of 
country which he had seen, and it remains Louisiana 
to this day, and is partly inhabited by Frenchmen; 
but has passed under the control of those very people 
who were indebted to Frenchmen for being themselves 
enabled successfully to cast off the dominion of their 
fatherland. 

The French were engaged in 1684 with the Five 
Nations of Indians, and under De la Barre concluded 
a treaty of peace with the Oneidas, the Onondagos, 
Cayugas, Mohawks, and Senecas ; who have ever since 
remained denizens of Canada and the adjacent terri- 
tory. The French population after this useful treaty 
had much increased, and the spirit of conquest having 
animated their bosoms, it was determined by a bold 
series of offensive measures to annihilate the English 



18 CANADA. 

dominion on the North American continent, and to 
extirpate the great and warlike tribe of the Senecas, 
who were friends to the latter. 

The Governor of New France, M. Denonville, accord- 
ingly set out from Frontenac (or rather Cataraqui, as 
Kingston was then called), at Midsummer, and encoun- 
tering the Senecas, routed them completely ; and to 
ensure the rule of France, he erected a fort at the 
confluence of the river Niagara with Lake Ontario. 

The Five Nations, however, were not so easily 
tamed; they took the field in 1689, and in July of 
that year they attacked Montreal, and committed horrid 
barbarities. 

The English now turned the tide of war into Canada, 
and a large force from the Plantations, under the cele- 
brated Sir Wm. Phipps (the ancestor of the Mulgrave 
family), attacked Quebec and Montreal; but owing to 
want of the timely arrival of their fleet, and unforeseen 
difficulties in the wilderness, which intervened between 
the English and French colonies, both operations were 
unsuccessful, as was also an invasion of the Mohawk 
country by Count Frontenac afterwards. 

Canada and New York were both becoming of vast 
importance, the former having reached a population 
exceeding 130,000, including the aborigines ; but a 
series of years passed in constant wars between the 
settlers and the more warlike of the tribes; the 
former assisted by the Indians resident near them, and 
the latter by English influence. It would occupy too 
much space to detail these wars, which were ably 
managed by Frontenac and Vaudreuil, until the death 
of the former, who was one of the best and most 



CANADA. 19 

energetic of the long list of governors of Canada who 
preceded or succeeded him during the French posses- 
sion. He died in 1698, and now not a vestige of the 
fort he erected at Kingston remains. The name of that 
place was first Cataraqui, next Frontenac, and it was 
recently the capital of Canada, always a place of im- 
portance, and promising to be the City of the Lakes. 
The strong mind of Frontenac saw its advantageous 
position, and that it was really the key of the St. 
Lawrence; and the completion of the Kideau Canal, 
the canals of the St. Lawrence and of the Welland, 
have consummated his views. 

The English court still with steady purpose looked 
forward to the necessity of conquering Canada, in order 
to preserve the colonies it had founded in North 
America; but it was not until 1756, that aware of the 
increasing power of France, and that she was silently 
engaged in drawing a cordon of forts from the Mexican 
Gulf, through Louisiana to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 
and that an awful massacre of English officers and 
soldiers had taken place at Fort William Henry, 
silently sanctioned by a French general, that England 
really took any effectual measures, although both the 
Colonists and the Indians had vainly endeavoured to 
stir the lion, until Oswego, an important post, fell 
again into the hands of the French, and then indeed 
the lion was roused from his apathetic slumber. 

Chatham, — the great Chatham, — who lived to see a 
success and a reverse unexampled in the history of 
colonies, was now at the helm. Boscawen and Aber- 
crombie assumed the commands of an immense fleet 
and an army of fifty thousand men; Cape Breton, 



20 CANADA. 

Louisbourg, the Island of St. John's, Fort Frontenac, 
Fort du Quesne, and the territories dependent, fell 
under the British arms, conducted by Amherst, Brad- 
street, and Forbes; and this was crowned in 1759 by 
the surrender of Quebec, and the consequent fall of 
the sceptre of France in Canada, at the feet of the 
immortal Wolfe, who with his rival in glory, Montcalm,* 
fell contending for an empire, which is destined to 
become the most mighty of any for which the mili- 
tary prowess of two of the greatest nations of the earth 
ever contended. 

The result of this victory was the treaty of Fontaine- 
^bleau, by which Great Britain became possessed of 
Canada, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, and all the other 
islands and territories in the St. Lawrence. The Ca- 
nadian French were allowed the undisturbed possession 
of their religion and property, and in October of the 
same year the King of Great Britain erected the 
government of Quebec into a province. De Levi, who 
succeeded Montcalm, having surrendered Montreal, 
Detroit, Michilimackinac, and all the remaining places 
within his government, on the 8th of September, 1760. 
The Province of Quebec then contained the very 
undefined territory, bounded by the river St. John, on 
the Labrador shore, and thence by a line through Lake 
St. John to the south-end of Lake Nipissing, then 
crossing the St. Lawrence and Lake Champlain, in 
forty-five degrees north latitude, passed along the 

* " Honneur a Montcalm, 
La destin, en lui derobant la victoire, 
L'a recompense par une mort glorieuse." 
— biscription on an Obelisk at Quebec, erected to Wolfe and Montcalm 
by Lord Dalhousie. 



CANADA. 21 

highlands, dividing the waters emptying themselves 
into the St. Lawrence, from those falling into the sea, 
and also the north coast of the Bay of Chaleurs, and 
the coast of the Gulf of St. Lawrence to Cape Rosier, 
and thence, crossing the mouth of the river St. Law- 
rence, by the west-end of the island of Auticosti, 
terminating at the river St. John. Thus ended the 
splendid vision of French dominion in America, after 
an interval of two centuries and a quarter from the 
first attempt at settlement, by Jacques Cartier, in 
1535. 

The policy of France, in her conduct towards her 
transatlantic colonies, has been so admirably com- 
mented upon by Burke, in his celebrated volumes on 
the European Settlements in America, that it is need- 
less to repeat it. 

The actual date of French colonization reaches only 
to the year 1608; and we have seen by the foregoing 
sketch that it was a mere experiment, partly of a 
commercial and partly of a military nature, until 1663. 
As long as it was commercial only, as is uniformly 
the case with every mercantile attempt to exclude all 
other than mercantile dominion, it signally failed. 
Yrhen purely military and based upon the destruction 
of the warlike savages, who were the real owners of 
the soil, it succeeded better ; but the atrocities and 
horrors committed by the belligerent parties stain the 
page of history, and rendered every step the French 
took to extend their knowledge of the country only an 
additional print on the blood-marked soil. 

When the French monarchy assumed its proper 
position in New France by sending a viceroy in 1663, 



22 CANADA. 

the system by which its West India Colonies generally 
were governed came into operation, and so rigid was 
the supervision over the governors, over the com- 
mercial transactions and the settlers, that Canada 
began from that moment to rear its head ; and had not 
the fatal measure now pursuing by the United States 
of exterminating the Indian tribes been one of the 
most prominent of the features of its policy, France 
would have probably retained its dominion either much 
longer, or altogether. Such unmitigated cruelty as 
that of driving whole races to despair, roused up a 
flame which never afterwards slumbered and drew a 
counter cordon parallel to that line by which the 
French attempted to hem in the British provinces. 
The same thing happens in our day; the enterprising 
and commercial American conceives that by extending 
the already overgrown Republic to the shores of the 
Pacific, he will unite himself to the Russian outposts, 
and then retracing eastward, but more to the north, 
his march, that he will shut in Canada, as the French 
attempted to do Florida, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and 
New York. But fortunately for Canada, the same 
counter cordon, upon nearly the same ground of 
Indian territory, has prevented, and will prevent, this 
scheme of aggrandizement. The mass of the people 
in the United States, with the pardonable vanity of all 
new countries, laugh the idea to scorn, that the red 
men can stand before them. Those who have seen 
much of the present race of Western Indians, however, 
know well that, in their own figurative language, " the 
hatchet is only buried, to preserve it/' and that they 
burn to avenge the wrongs of the nations from Florida 



CANADA. 23 

to Superior. They have been forced back westward, 
but, like the sea-wave in its wrath, the recoil will be 
greater than any obstacle to its progress which has 
hitherto existed, and the world may be assured that 
the Indians are still numerous enough to cause them- 
selves to be feared, if they cannot enforce respect. 

The wars of the French with the Iroquois, who 
were extirpated, afford a fine example of the truth of 
the above assertions; the monster lost one of its heads, 
but twenty new ones sprouted up in its place, and the 
English, taking advantage of the accession, achieved at 
once a conquest which otherwise must at least have 
occupied many years. 

But we must resume the thread of our historical 
sketch. No sooner was Quebec and -Montreal in pos- 
session of England, than commerce began to rear its 
head ; and it is recorded that, in the first year, 1763, 
the exports from Britain amounted to no less a sum 
than £8,624. But new troubles retarded the progress 
of this fine colony, and although they dimmed the 
lustre of that crown of victory which graced the dying 
brow of Wolfe, it was only for a moment, and the 
conduct of the French colonists soon restored it to 
more than its original lustre. 

The passing of the Stamp Act had set the British 
plantations in a blaze ; but the Canadians, well satisfied 
with their new government, secure in the exercise of 
their private and religious rights, repudiated with the 
brave Novascotians, the insidious designs of the dis- 
affected in the neighbouring provinces, who, in 1774, 
after the well-known outbreak at Boston, issued a 
declaration, in Congress, of their intentions to rule 



24 CANADA. 

themselves, and sent a deputation to Canada to incor- 
porate that colony with the proposed Republic. It is 
said, and has not been contradicted, that ministers of 
the peaceful gospel were employed in this insidious 
attempt, — an attempt never lost sight of for sixty-eight 
years afterwards, and which now only slumbers. But the 
year in which these missionaries appeared was destined 
to witness their discomfiture and that of their em- 
ployers, who had invaded this peaceable and loyal 
province with a large force under Montgomery and 
Arnold. Montgomery fell, whilst attacking Quebec, in 
the month of November, 1775 ; and in the summer of 
1776, Arnold was forced to raise the siege and 
evacuate Canada, to display himself afterwards in 
different colours. 

The western part of Canada began now to assume 
importance : abandoned after the conquest as an 
Indian hunting-ground, or occupied at its western 
extremity, on Lake Erie, by a few of the ancient 
French colonists, its capability of supporting a nume- 
rous population along the shores of the Great River 
and the lakes, became evident. Those excellent 
men who, preferring to sacrifice life and fortune 
rather than forego the enviable distinction of being 
British subjects, saw that this vast field afforded a 
sure and certain mode of safety and of honourable 
retreat, and accordingly, in 1783, ten thousand 
settlers were enumerated in that portion of Canada, 
who, under the proud title of United Empire Loy- 
alists, had turned their backs for ever upon the new- 
fangled republicanism and treason of the country of 
their birth. 



CANADA. 25 

The obstacles, privations, arid miseries these brave 
people had to encounter, may readily be imagined in a 
country where the primaeval forest covered the earth, 
and where the only path was the river, or the lake. 
They ultimately were however blessed with success ; 
and to this day the magical letters U. E. placed 
after the name of an applicant for land, ensure its 
grant. 

In 1786, Canada was formed into one portion of a 
vice-royalty, and a Governor-general, Sir Guy Carleton 
(Lord Dorchester), assumed its direction, including 
under his rule, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, 
Newfoundland, &c. The constitution under which 
Canada was originally governed had been introduced 
by the conquest in 1759, whereby the laws of England, 
civil and criminal, had been declared in operation. The 
French settlers had received their new boon of British 
justice, as far only as regarded the criminal code, with 
unmixed joy, as it freed them from the despotic system 
they had long suffered under ; but they were not so 
well satisfied with the change from the antiquated 
Coutume de Paris, in the adoption of the English civil 
jurisprudence, and to please them, in 1775, an Act had 
passed restoring the ancient regime. 

Sir Guy Carleton found his province of Quebec in a 
flourishing state, and the population exceeding 115,000 ; 
and as he was really a viceroy, although his hands were 
somewhat tied by the anomalous state of the laws, and 
the very great oversight which had been committed of 
suffering them to be administered on principles, wholly 
repugnant to British freedom; yet he had an easy 
task compared with that of his recent successors — for 

vol i. c 



26 CANADA. 

it would have been a grievous shame had not Great 
Britain yielded her acknowledged claim of exercising 
her own laws over her patient, and loyal French 
Colonists. 

British historians and politicians unite in deploring 
the error, as it is termed, of not securing British 
influence by introducing the language of the con- 
queror with his customs and his policy ; but it seems 
to be forgotten, that when the English gave way to 
the desires of their Canadian brethren in 1775, these 
Canadians had just defeated that most powerful com- 
bination against British interests and power in the 
New World, which led to the absolute loss of thirteen 
of the finest of our transatlantic provinces. 

The error was assuredly one on the side of practical 
and positive justice, albeit that it entailed consequences 
which even the mind of Pitt failed to foresee. The 
Americans, with less magnanimity and more foresight, 
treated the conquered French in Louisiana differently, 
and they have not gained much by the ease with which 
a whole colony was turned over to a regeneration of 
manners and measures; which, savouring very much 
of despotism in the abstract, has sunk deeply into the 
minds of the descendants of the Louisianians, and 
with the bigoted persecution in latter times of the 
Catholic Irish ; will not fail to cause deep and lasting 
trouble when the union of Republicanism with the 
aristocracy of wealth shall bring forth an offspring yet 
in embryo. 

Great Britain could afford to be indulgent to a 
people, who having been reckoned as her natural 
enemies from the times of our Edwards and our 



CANADA. 27 

Henries, had, nevertheless, supported her against the 
presumption and the unnatural hostility of her off- 
spring. In her honour they confided, — and from that 
hour until Republicanism began to rear its head on 
their own soil, they evinced their gratitude by zealously 
fighting her battles, and crushing every attempt of the 
people of the United States to enslave them. 

It is singular enough that, as was just observed, 
peripatetic professors of religion w r ere first selected to 
sow the seeds of Republicanism in Canada, and that 
that plan has been steadily pursued for nearly seventy 
years. These travelling-preachers, belonging to no 
particular or rather to no uniform class of Christians, 
still prowl like wolves ravening amidst the forests of 
that country, selecting remote and unobserved stations 
to instil their venom, and introducing Republican 
tracts, and elementary books of instruction amongst 
the most ignorant of the population in Western Canada, 
and in the Eastern townships. 

Ministers of religion, as they are falsely styled; 
ministers of the moral law, ministers of the physical 
law, and practitioners of medicine, were the prominent 
or the hidden leaders of the revolt in 1837. Bidwell, 
and Dr. Rolph, — the first an American refugee lawyer, 
the other a British subject, and a medical practitioner, 
both highly tinged w T ith extra-evangelism, — with Dr. 
Duncombe, were the leaders in Upper Canada. The 
advocate, Papineau, with the two Drs. Nelson, and Dr. 
Kimber of Chambly, Dr. Chenier and Dr. Cote, were the 
revolutionary leaders in Lower Canada. Papineau was 
a lawyer of some reputation and practice ; the others, 
such as Theller, were of less influence, but not less 

c 2 



28 CANADA, 

dangerous.* We shall presently see from what causes 
these men were actuated, and the objects they aimed 
at ; and must now turn to the concluding section of 
this chapter, — the important event of the actual grant 
of a constitution to Canada. 

Mr. Pitt, in a luminous speech upon this occasion, 
was so impressed with the impossibility of reconciling 
the jarring interests, which had already developed 
themselves between the British settlers in the West 
and the French Canadians in the East, that he stated 
he knew not how to reconcile or destroy their un- 
happy influence, but by separating the people of 
such different origin, and of such different language 
and feeling. 

Accordingly, he divided the province of Quebec into 
two grand divisions by the Ottawa River, calling that 
to the West, Upper or English Canada ; that to the 
East, Lower or French Canada, — and to each portion 
granted a separate constitution, adapted to their situa- 
tion and prospects. 

JJpper Canada received the British laws and customs 
upon the same broad terms as they are recognized by 
Magna Charta, and the Bill of Eights ; that is to say, 
she was constituted an integral portion of the Empire, 
and a province having the control of its own affairs 
under a Governor and Council, and Houses of Legisla- 
ture, similar in every respect to those of the Lords and 
Commons in Great Britain, as far as the circumstances 
of the country would admit. 

* Theller was an apothecary ; and, as a clever writer in the New 
York Albion says, " No wonder the cause of Canadian patriotism 
was hopeless, * Tot medici, tantum periculum,' " 



CANADA. 29 

The same boon was granted to Lower Canada, but 
the administration of the laws, the proceedings of the 
Houses, and the feudal tenure of the lands in posses- 
sion was still permitted to remain ; excepting only the 
Criminal Law, subject to ancient French customs, and 
to the vernacular language of the Province which had 
been carefully guarded inviolable by its denizens re- 
fusing to learn that of the conquerors. Lands held 
from the Crown, and granted after the Charter was 
in force, were however to be held in free and common 
soccage ; and thus the way was paved for introducing a 
British race behind the belt of coast, which is alone 
settled by the French along the shores of the St. 
Lawrence. 

The anomalies which this mixture of French and 
British law introduced may well be imagined, 
and seigneurs soon sprang up with the titles of 

Baron de (of seignorial land), who were 

English, Scotch, or Irish, and who inherited their 
lordships by marriage or by purchase. It was a 
curious thing for a reflective mind to see a British 
subject, holding no recognised British rank, signing 
himself De (so and so), and receiving the homage 
of the feudal age in his " quints, lods et ventes ;" 
in the obligation of his serf to grind his corn at 
the seigneur's mill, and other vexatious and despotic 
customs of the Norman age. 

Papineau and Nelson aimed a great blow at this 
remnant of Gothic rule, but in so doing they created 
powerful enemies; and as the Roman Catholic 
priesthood were also included in their sweeping 
alterations, they raised a nest of hornets about 



30 CANADA. 

their ears which would have stung them, had they 
succeeded, more sorely than they were stung at St. 
Eustache, and prevented such union amongst the 
Canadians as would have embarrassed and retarded 
the supremacy of British power, whilst the ancient 
Catholic enmity to the Americans, who are always 
styled u les sacres Bostonais " by the Canadian 
peasantry, prevented effectually the wished-for con- 
summation by the leaders of the revolt, of a defensive 
union with the United States.* 

* See Nelson's Proclamation, 4th chap. vol. II. 



CANADA. 31 



CHAPTER II. 

Condition of the two Provinces, from 1791 to the year 1812. 

The years 1791 and 1792 are remarkable in the 
history of the civilized world. The Reign of Terror in 
France was commencing, England was in a state of 
great agitation. The trial of Warren Hastings occu- 
pied public attention, and France was declared a 
Republic, Constantinople was devastated by an unpa- 
ralleled conflagration, Egypt lost nearly a million of 
her people by the plague. The king of Sweden was 
assassinated, and the guillotine was ready to shed the 
blood of a whole royal family, and an hecatomb of the 
nobility was preparing. 

It was in this season of convulsion and of dismay 
that Great Britain proposed to attach more firmly to 
her interests the loyal population of Canada, which, for 
ten years after the recognition of American indepen- 
dence, had remained firm in its devotion to the British 
Crown. 

The splendid talents of Pitt, of Burke, and of Fox, 
assisted in developing the scheme of providing a colo- 
nial administrative power for these rising provinces. 

Burke, who, gifted with a mind which could grasp 



32 CANADA. 

probabilities with keener perception than appears to 
have been granted to Pitt, foresaw the consequences, 
the fatal and humiliating lessons mankind was about 
to receive from the irreligious and wild madness of the 
French. He, with his usual power, contended that the 
people, the loyal people of Canada, should receive, at 
such an epoch, such a constitution as would leave them 
"nothing to envy" in comparing their position as 
provinces of Britain with that of their neighbours, the 
American Republicans. 

The House of Commons yielded to the suggestions 
of the youthful minister, and the model of the English 
constitution was, as we have already observed, chosen 
to work upon; but how to constitute a Chamber of 
Peers was the grand difficulty. Fox ridiculed the 
attempt to create noblemen out of the materials 
afforded by such new colonies, and wished to make the 
Upper Houses elective ; but Mr. Pitt silenced the oppo- 
sition and carried his point, that the nomination of all 
councillors should be with the Crown, and that the 
fostering of an order of nobility might be a matter 
of future consideration. 

Mr. Pitt was, in fact, very nearly on the point of 
creating a most anomalous class of the noblesse from 
the raw material of the emigrants, whose loyalty had 
driven them from the United States. He had no 
experience (as, how could he have?) of the difficulties 
which such a course would soon have involved. The 
natural tenacity with which men, suddenly elevated to 
an unexpected distinction above their neighbours, cling 
to precedence and rank, have been sufficiently embar- 
rassing to the Government in all colonies since a 



CANADA. 33 

constitution was granted to Canada, without increasing 
the difficulty by making those ranks hereditary. The 
grandeur of ancient recollections, the spirit-stirring 
associations which are connected with the aristocracy 
of Britain, render us proud of their ancestral names ; 
but in the New World, peopled only within three 
hundred years, there are neither the reminiscences of 
chivalry, nor of deep and profound learning to elevate 
the noble above his fellows ; nor is there an adequate 
supply of the means to sustain the almost regal 
splendour with which the British peerage encircle their 
coronets. 

The absurdity of a Duke of Marmalade and a 
Marquess of Lemonade in Hayti, can be laughed at 
equally by the aristocrat or by the republican, setting 
aside the prejudice of colour; and would not Western 
Canada furnish a theme for ridicule if some of its 
worthy councillors were to be suddenly raised to the 
peerage with the high-sounding titles of Duke of 
Niagara, Marquess of Ontario, Viscount Erie, or 
Baron Superior?* 

In Lower Canada there are indeed the undoubted 
descendants of illustrious families, and the seignories 
afforded very good designations for a noblesse so time- 
honoured, but in general their means were limited to 
their ancestral halls, not so good as the mansions of 
the departed English squirearchy, whilst a sort of 
universal dislike exists amongst all classes of the 

* Yet if a British colonist possesses sufficient means to support a 
title, and his services demand an honorary distinction, it would be 
highly politic and proper (as marking monarchical institutions also) 
to confer a title on him. — Editor. 

c 3 



34 CANADA. 

population to the assumption, by British-born subjects, 
of these vestiges of the old feudal French dominion, 
and the possessors can therefore seldom obtain, in 
mixed society, the honours they very rarely assume. 

A very great and natural desire no doubt existed 
amongst some of the least reflecting of that body who 
held the colonial title of honourable for the term of 
their natural lives, to perpetuate that distinction in 
their families. The herald too had, in some few 
instances, his office forestalled; and persons happening 
to rejoice in the possession of ancient names, which 
find their way into the peerage, having, as it w r as 
said, assumed arms and mottos accordingly.* 

The question of a colonial peerage was therefore 
set at rest ; but since the establishment of the baronets 
of Nova Scotia by James I., in 1623, serious inten- 
tions have been exhibited of instituting some such 
inferior class of nobility to reward public servants in 
the Colonies; and even now the baronets are urging 
an old claim to lands in America. The Nova Scotia 
baronets wear an ancient decoration, introduced by 
Sir William Alexander, Premier Baronet of Nova 
Scotia, and afterwards Earl of Stirling. 

The Quebec Act, passed in consequence of the 

* Mr. Pitt had very good materials, in 1791, from which to create 
a hereditary branch. The old noblesse, principally seigneurs, were 
then to be found in Canada ; they had, for the most part, been edu- 
cated at the French Court, and were men of refinement and obser- 
vation. Had such a House been in existence, it would have given 
the French Canadians a strong inducement to remain attached to 
Britain, and it would have probably sympathized better with the 
Lower House than the heterogeneously composed Legislative Coun- 
cils that have been selected by the Crown from among Storekeepers, 
Lawyers, &c. — Editor, 



CANADA. 35 

alarming state of British interests on the continent of 
America, had secured to the French Canadians, for 
the first time, something approaching to the preven- 
tion of the despotic sway which the governors and 
intendants had burthened the people with, and a 
check upon the subsequent ail-but unlimited powers 
of the primal Governors-general of the English 
Colony, — who however had usually exercised this 
immense trust not only to the satisfaction of the 
mother country., but in strict accordance with the 
provisions of the conquest and capitulation. Nothing 
in fact could, under all the circumstances, have been 
more honourable and more liberal; for not only was 
private property untouched, but the actual right of 
being enrolled as freemen of the great British empire 
was so fully conceded that the French Canadians w T ere 
admissible to offices of power and trust, and were 
endued with all the known legal and moral rights of 
the natural-born British subject. The Roman Catholic 
religion was left as free as that of the mother country, 
and the estates which belonged to that church 
remained almost exclusively in its possession. 

The celebrated Quebec Act went further, it restored 
the ordinances of the French kings respecting the 
administration of civil law, and delegated to the Crown 
the appointment of Twenty-three Councillors to assist 
the Viceroy ; nor did the native-born race evince any 
repugnance to the rule of a Governor and Council 
until the British had beeome permanent settlers, and 
had instituted petitions and memorials to be brought 
entirely under the pale of the British constitution. 

Mr. Pitt granted, in 1791, the prayers of the 



36 CANADA, 

Colonists, after an interval of six years which had been 
spent in considering their claims ; and the boundaries 
of two distinct provinces were now settled and defined, 
the Upper reaching from the head of Lake Superior to 
the Ottawa River, and the Lower from that river to 
the Gulf of St. Lawrence, including Newfoundland, 
whilst the Viceroy, or Governor-general exercised 
jurisdiction over all the British Colonies on the conti- 
nent of -North America, excepting Hudson's Bay and 
the North-western territories. 

It would not be in accordance with the intention 
of the present volumes to enter into a list of the 
governors and lieutenant-governors, and to examine 
their individual policy and acts, but that of Simcoe, 
the first Lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada, must 
not be passed over slightly, as under his charge was 
the important experiment conducted of seating the 
British constitution firmly amidst the forest-covered 
regions of the New World, and showing its advantages 
and blessings as contrasted with those emanating from 
a democratic institution, which had largely imbibed 
notions of liberty and equality from these Frenchmen 
whom it had taught to despise monarchical xule, and 
this double lesson in its reaction depriving both 
worlds of that repose and peace which could restore 
the disordered state of Christendom. 

France paid dearly for the assistance which she 
so readily lent to the rebellious daughter of England. 
Her throne, her religion, her commerce, and her 
national character were swept away in torrents of her 
best blood; and it needed, amidst all the pomp and 
glare of a warlike despotism, years of combat and of 



CANADA. 37 

suffering to restore even the semblance of security and 
tranquillity to her distracted bosom, whilst it gave 
the hordes of Russia their first opportunity to try 
their strength in crushing freedom in its cradle. 

The Anglo-American gained an empire; and 
founding his newly-acquired rank amongst the nations 
of the earth upon a close imitation of those glorious 
doctrines which had rendered his parent invulnerable, 
would have paved the way to the subjugation of the 
whole American continent to his dominion, had he not 
with mercantile tenacity considered the tobacco and 
the rice of the South of more importance than a perfect 
abstract of Magna Charta. 

The American endeavoured to combine the opposing 
elements of liberty and equality with a distinction of 
ol our and the brand of human degradation; and he 
committed the still more fatal error, — a legacy from the 
Puritans, — of considering religious freedom as con- 
sisting of dogmatism and the doctrines of uneducated 
reformers. In fact, in the ardour of reaction, he went 
many irretrievable steps beyond the utmost bounds of 
a constituted democracy, and thus left abysms in 
his almost Utopian constitution which cannot now be 
filled up. He spread, however, the banner of Liberty 
over a fair portion of the earth; and thus led to the 
dismemberment of an empire which Charles V. had 
founded, and which, but for its exclusiveness and 
bigotry, would have controlled the world, and he 
assisted in wholly paralyzing the power of France, 
by quietly possessing himself of all that was valuable 
to his ally on the North American continent. 

It was in the memorable year that gave the great 



38 CANADA. 

check to the extension of American power, that Simcoe 
was directed to proceed to Upper Canada; and he 
assumed the reins of government on the 8th of July, 
1792, — an epoch which should ever be held in remem- 
brance by the Western Canadians. The first place at 
which he fixed his official residence was Niagara, then, 
and even now, occasionally called Newark ; and there, in 
a house hastily put together, he lived for several years. 

The Governor-general was then Guy Carleton (Lord 
Dorchester) ; but, as has been since customary, he did 
not interfere with the administration of the new pro- 
vince, excepting upon pressing occasions, or when 
military affairs rendered it necessary, the Lieutenant- 
governors being authorized in the British American 
Colonies to correspond with the Secretary of State 
without the intervention of their superiors, upon all 
civil state affairs, and in general receive" instructions 
by despatches direct from the Home authorities. 

The Canadas at this time contained about 140,000 
settlers; the Upper division having reached in 1795 to 
about 30,000, whilst its boundaries were actually 
unlimited to the westward. It was here, therefore, 
that the great scheme of British colonization was to be 
opened and fostered; and Simcoe, in commencing it, 
succeeded even beyond his expectation. He com- 
menced upon a matured plan to settle the country 
enclosed between Lakes Ontario, Erie, and Huron, and 
to connect the two provinces by a belt of farms and 
villages along the banks of the St. Lawrence. 

To form a central city or metropolis, he first selected 
a site, which was then unbroken forest, on the north 
shore of Lake Ontario, where a peninsula of sand, in a 



CANADA. 39 

semilunar form, shuts out the troubled waters of the 
vast lake from a beautiful bay of two miles in length 
by one in its greatest breadth, entered only by a 
narrow channel, but which terminated in an immense 
swamp. Here ague and fever, it was anticipated, 
reigned supreme. The choice of this site was probably 
caused by the singular felicity with which the French 
had uniformly chosen their principal stations, and by 
the fact of its being removed by the whole breadth of 
Lake Ontario, at that part upwards of thirty-six miles 
wide, from the shores of the American Union. It also 
commanded a great portage of about the same length, 
by which Lake Simcoe communicated with Penetan- 
gueshene and the Georgian Bay of Lake Huron, whilst 
the intervening country between these lakes possessed 
a fertile and virgin soil. 

Governor Simcoe's grand plan was to secure the 
Colonists from invasion, and he formed a scheme of 
settlement w T hich placed the emigrants from the United 
States in the heart of the territory embraced by Erie, 
Huron, and Ontario; and to secure their fidelity, or 
rather to neutralize their future attempts to join the 
Union, he proposed to encircle them by a belt of 
military settlers along the margin of all these lakes. 

When he commenced this project, Upper Canada 
was only partially opened from the banks of the 
junction of the Ottowa and St. Lawrence, to Kingston 
and the Bay of Quinte, the French occupied partially 
the shores of the Detroit ; there were a few farms along 
the Niagara River, and a village or two along the shore 
of Lake Ontario from Niagara towards Burlington Bay. 

Lord Dorchester, who appears to have possessed 



40 CANADA. 

great foresight, opposed this grand plan, and urged 
the propriety of adopting Kingston as the capital of 
Upper Canada; for which its greater proximity to 
Montreal, its natural advantages, and its splendid 
roadstead and bay, appeared much more adapted. 

Simcoe then turned his attention from the old 
French post of Toronto; where that enterprising people 
had constructed a large earth-work to control the 
Indians, and had opened a French forest road directly 
north, to communicate with Lake Huron, vestiges of 
which still remain. He sought a central situation 
between the three great lakes, and at length fixed upon 
London, on the River Thames, — which river he proposed 
to render navigable to Chatham, at which place his 
grand naval depot of gun-boats and the flotilla was to 
be made, and at London the depot of warlike stores, 
secured by its distance from the frontier, was to be 
erected. 

Had he continued to carry out these views, and had 
London been constituted the capital of Upper Canada, 
it cannot be doubted that Upper Canada would have 
rapidly increased in wealth and population ; as the 
London and Western districts enjoy a milder climate 
than Toronto, and embrace the most fertile lands in 
the province, whilst the necessity of forming great 
roads from it to Huron, Erie, and Ontario, would have 
rapidly opened the country between the three lakes. 
But he met with incessant opposition to his views, and 
his plan of settling soldiers and officers along the 
frontiers to form an experienced and loyal militia, 
did not meet the support and success which it 
deserved. 



CANADA. 41 

Kingston became therefore the great naval station. 
Fort Niagara was ceded with Detroit to the Americans ; 
and Simcoe carried out, only just before he was 
recalled, his original intention of placing the seat of 
government at Toronto, — so named, it is conjectured, 
from an Italian engineer, who constructed the old 
French fort, for on all the early maps it is called 
Presqu'ile de Tarento. 

The Lieutenant-governor, however, named his pro- 
jected city " York ; " and as he had the same difficulties, 
on a smaller scale, to contend against which embar- 
rassed Peter the Great, in placing his capital on a 
swampy flat, it was long ere York reached even the 
extent of a large village; for in 1826, I saw it con- 
sisting of one long straggling street, and about 
2,000 inhabitants. In 1837, when I last lived in 
it, it was a well-built city, with 11,000 people dwell- 
ing where General Simcoe, on his first landing to 
explore its dense forest, found only an Indian wigwam 
or two.* It is now a splendid place, containing (in 
1847) 23,000 inhabitants, and is lit with gas. 

* City of Toronto. — We take from The Church the following 
very interesting statistical Table. We believe the whole population 
to be nearly a thousand more than the number contained in this total. 
A new church, or rather two new churches were about being built in 
1843: 

RELIGIOUS STATISTICS. 

1842. 1841. 

Church of England 6575 6754 

Kirk of Scotland 1782 1503 

Church of Rome 3000 2401 

British Wesleyan Methodists 890 816 

Canadian Wesleyan Methodists 724 681 

. Episcopal Methodists 184 — 

Other Methodists 208 — 



42 CANADA. 

The Americans, jealous of this new and rising 
metropolis of a monarchical province being styled 
York (which was the designation of the commercial 
capital of the Union, and the chief city of the Empire 
State as they call New York), always in derision styled 
it Little York, and by new-comers it was called Dirty 
York, from the very deep mud, which, after rain and snow, 
they had to wade through in its streets and vicinity. 

But such is the power of wealth and human industry, 
such the consequence of clearing away the primaeval 
forests, that considerable streams which crossed it in 

1842. 1841. 

Presbyterians not in connection with the 

Kirk of Scotland 821 483 

Congregationalists or Independents. .... . . 447 404 

Papists and Anabaptists 429 430 

Lutherans 13 — 

Quakers 14 5 

Jews 10 3 

All other Denominations 239 — 

United Secession Church . . — 231 

Primitive Methodists — 201 

Apostolical Church , — 160 

African Methodists — 39 

Unitarians — 5 

No religion — 132 

" The Church of England, it will be perceived, numbers, in 1842, 
179 less than in 1841. This may be accounted for by the removal 
of several families to Kingston, and by the want of church accommo- 
dation, driving its members into other denominations. By this time 
twelvemonth (1843), however, two new churches, we believe, will have 
been erected, and duly served by resident clergymen. In the mean- 
time, we have no doubt that some temporary provision will be made 
for the performance of Divine service both at the east and west-end 
of our growing city. The great increase of Roman Catholics is 
owing to Emigration. 

" The total population of the city (1842) was 15,336 ; but since the 
Census was taken, a very great addition was made to that number, by 
the influx of Emigrants." 



CANADA. 43 

their progress to the lake and bay, have dried up and 
disappeared, the great thoroughfares are Macadamized 
at a vast expense, and Little York is now Toronto, a 
city of brick houses, with splendid streets and shops, 
many of which vie in external appearance with those 
of the parent metropolis, whilst all around it on the 
land-side for many miles is a rich and well-cultivated 
succession of farms, which bid fair to reach to Lake 
Huron in one direction along Yonge-street, as they 
are almost uninterruptedly connected for six-and-thirty 
miles along a fine coach-road leading to Lake Simcoe, 
and passing by a wheat-growing country at New- 
market, not surpassed in fertility by any part of 
England. 

But I shall have to discuss the capabilities of Toronto 
again, and must therefore leave it, to return to its 
Founder. 

It is generally supposed at home that all the first 
settlers in Upper Canada were loyalists, who sought 
refuge from the American rebellion. It is true that 
a great proportion were so; but even in the very 
commencement of Governor Simcoe' s administration it 
was clearly observed that many of those who sought 
his protection, and obtained large grants of land, by 
stating that they preferred to live under a monarchy, 
did so with the sole view of obtaining those grants, 
and then cared not to conceal that they were true 
Americans at heart ; thus the troubles of Canada com- 
menced with the declaration of its being an acknow- 
ledged and integral part of Great Britain; and in 
the outbreak of 1837 the portions of the province that 
displayed disaffection were precisely those in which 



44 CANADA. 

the first American settlers located themselves ; so that, 
in 1838, Sir John Colborne (Lord Seaton) had, after 
an interval of forty-seven years, to carry out one part 
of Simcoe's wise and far-sighted scheme, by making 
London a large military post, and thereby raising it 
at once to the rank of a town. 

Sir John Colborne, with the usual decision of his 
military character, ordered the erection of an extensive 
square of barracks at London, to keep that central 
section of country between the great lower lakes quiet, 
and to afford succour to Amherstburgh, Sandwich, and 
Windsor on the frontiers of the exposed Erie. The 
consequence of this wise measure was that London, 
laid out like Washington, in a forest, w T ith half a 
dozen houses only, few and far between, has now, 
with an interval of only a few years, become a town, 
and bids fair to be the central city of the Western 
section of Upper Canada. 

Thus one of General Simcoe's projects has been at 
last achieved; and Sir John Colborne during his 
administration of the Upper Province, carried out 
another, but in a better and different manner, for 
instead of placing the military settlers along the 
frontier line of the lakes, he sent them into the Lon- 
don and Western districts, and lined Lake Simcoe and 
the road to Penetangueshene with them ; thus inter- 
spersing a sound and loyal race amongst those 
questionable settlers who had crossed the Niagara 
line, and provided a militia capable of resisting, here- 
after, the invasion of the very distant and vulnerable 
points of the Georgian Bay of Lake Huron. 

The utility of his measures were apparent in 1837, 



CANADA. 45 

for when Toronto was threatened by Mackenzie, from 
the back townships adjacent to it, and Dunconibe 
was stirring up the American settlers in the London 
district, the loyal naval and military settlers of Lake 
Simcoe stood in the rear of Mackenzie ; and the men of 
Gore, with the loyalists of the London and the Western 
district, soon paralyzed the doctor and his legions. 

I shall have occasion, in treating of the recent 
history of the province, to show how Kingston, the 
present capital and the chief fortress and naval and 
military depot, in 1837, was saved by a similar dis- 
position of the loyalists amongst the disaffected. 

Governor Simcoe remained in Upper Canada only 
until the year 1796, or for about four years; but he 
left a name which will never be forgotten there, both 
as respects the amiability of his private character, and 
the extent of his abilities and acquirements. He w T ent 
to England, where he possessed extensive property, 
and was afterwards sent to St. Domingo,— where he 
suffered from the envy and jealousy of those who could 
neither appreciate his character, nor bear the curb he 
put upon their career of oppression and rapacity. 

The first Parliament of Upper Canada was opened 
and closed in its first session, by speeches from the 
throne, which concisely developed the line of policy to 
be pursued in governing that country, for the first time 
under purely British rule, and the remarkable words 
were used, that — " Upper Canada was singularly blest, 
not with a mutilated constitution, but with a consti- 
tution which has stood the test of experience, and is 
the very image and transcript of that of Great Britain, 
by which she has long established and secured to her 



46 CANADA. 

subjects as much freedom and happiness as is possible 
to be enjoyed, under the subordination necessary to 
civilized society." 

Whether Lieutenant-governor Simcoe meant any 
serious reflection upon the anomalous constitution 
which Mr. Pitt had instructed the Governor-general 
to administer to Lower Canada is now questionable; 
at all events he must have been glad that he was not 
fettered by an admixture of barbarous feudal and 
despotic laws, and with a foreign language to execute 
the decrees of his parliament and civil courts in. It 
appears that Lord Dorchester was, however, although 
as amiable in his private relations as his rival, some- 
what jealous of the Lieutenant-governor, and did all 
he could by making Carleton Island, near Kingston, 
the great military depot, to thwart his schemes re- 
specting York and London, and frustrated all the 
intention of permitting every soldier then stationed 
there to become a settler, by giving him a grant of a 
hundred acres upon condition of his procuring a 
substitute. 

The chief measure of Simcoe's government, which 
actually took permanent effect, was the carrying out of 
the Constitution as established by the Act of the 31st 
of George III., cap. 21, 1790. And in the first 
session of the Provincial Parliament were passed Acts 
of the Colonial Legislature, establishing trial by jury, 
regulation of weights and measures, and all summary 
proceedings for the recovery of small debts ; — an Act 
altering the local divisions of the country, and 
establishing the Eastern district in place of that 
formerly called Lunenburgh, the Midland district in 



CANADA. 47 

place of that of Mecklenburgh, the Home district- in 
place of Nassau, and the Western district in lieu of 
that of Hesse. 

The succeeding Sessions were occupied with im- 
portant local business, in making statutes which are 
now the fundamental laws of Upper Canada, including 
the formation of a Court of King's Bench ; of Chancery ; 
District Courts ; regulation of the Militia ; building 
Gaols and Court-houses ; licensing Medical Practi- 
tioners and Lawyers, and a General Registry-office 
for Deeds, Wills, &c, with such district and general 
taxes as were necessary to be raised for the support of 
Government and for opening roads, and a High Court 
of Appeal. 

The first session of the second Parliament closed his 
labours, and he was temporarily replaced by a Presi- 
dent of the Council, or acting Lieutenant-governor, 
in whose administration was passed, in 1797, the 
celebrated Act for " Better Securing the Province 
from the King's Enemies/' and for preventing them, 
or Aliens, dwelling therein. 

The subsequent reign of a Lieutenant-governor, 
General P. Hunter, produced the remarkable Statute 
for " Securing the Province from all Seditious At- 
tempts or Designs to Disturb its Tranquillity;" which 
alone shows how early the Americans began to broach 
their grand design of conquering Canada, and strenu- 
ous exertions were now made to introduce the 
cultivation of hemp, which appears somewhat ominous 
in conjunction with a Sedition Act. 

In 1806 the province was once more under the 
temporary administration of a President, in whose 



48 CANADA. 

time the liberal grant for so young a country of £400, 
for the advancement of science, was made to procure 
philosophical instruments. A splendid set was accord- 
ingly sent out from home; which were so highly 
valued that, in 1832, when I first was quartered at 
Little York, few persons knew, and still fewer cared 
anything about them, and they were found, vene- 
rable with dust and neglect, along with a valuable 
ecclesiastical library, in one of the rooms of the General 
Hospital, — a most inviting situation for the friends of 
science to visit and use them in. An attempt was 
made to get up a literary and scientific society ; at 
which, for one or two winters, lectures were given by 
persons w T ho w r ere about as much used to chemistry 
and natural philosophy as the instruments themselves 
had been since they came from the maker's hands. 
The society failed from this and other causes, and 
what has become of the instruments I cannot tell ; but 
as the Government, in Sir John Colborne's time, had 
interested the Admiralty and the Royal Society in the 
establishment of an Observatory, w r hich has since been 
carried into effect at Toronto, and as Ordnance-officers 
have arrived there * to superintend magnetic and 
meteorologic observations, I trust this splendid collec- 
tion is duly housed in the Observatory. I have some 
interest in this subject, having been almost the 
original suggester of the plan of making Toronto a 
part of a chain of posts of science across the British 
American territory, from St. John's in Newfoundland 
to the Pacific, north of the Columbia River, by which 

* Captains Lefroy and Younghusband. 



CANADA. , 49 

a constant succession of observations of the heavenly 
bodies would be going on within the ring of military 
occupation, with which Great Britain has encircled the 
world. 

St. John's, the capital of Newfoundland, is admi- 
rably adapted for the first link of the chain from Green- 
wich, lying as it does but a few degrees south of 
the same parallel of latitude. Here meteorologic data 
of great rarity and utility would be noted from the 
extreme humidity of the air, the dense fogs of the 
neighbouring banks, the Polar currents, and the Gulf 
Stream. The aurora, too, exhibits very constant and 
very novel features in Newfoundland ; and there are 
solar and lunar phenomena which are confined to that 
region. The splendour of the night sky is also very 
great; and I have already proved in the work on 
" Newfoundland in 1842/' that land-fogs are com- 
paratively rare, and would not interfere with astrono- 
mical observations carried on anywhere a mile inland 
from the ocean, so much, probably, as is experienced 
at Greenwich from London fog, Thames fog, and 
London smoke. 

The second of these stations should be the one 
recently established at Toronto, a little further south 
again than St. John's, in a climate as remarkable for 
the extreme dryness of the air as the Newfoundland 
station is for its humidity, and where the variation of 
the needle is little or nothing,* and where the pheno- 
mena arising from a vast inland sea of fresh water 
would be developed as well as those relating to the 

* The mean variation at Toronto for 1850, was 1° 39' west 
(nearly). — Dip of needle, 75° 20' north. — Editor. 

VOL. I. D 



50 CANADA. 

aurora; which is, I think, more splendid on Lake 
Ontario than anywhere else in the world. 

The third station, I should propose, should be as 
nearly north of the Columbia River as possible, and in 
the same parallel, fifty-one degrees, as Greenwich; here 
a new set of meteorologic facts would be collected from 
the fine climate, the vast Pacific Ocean, and the im- 
mense and magnificent primaeval forests. 

The fourth station should be in the centre of the 
Pacific, either in the Sandwich Islands or some of 
those little isolated ones near the Equator, — as the 
Mulgraves, Christmas Island, &c. 

The fifth in the China Seas, at Hongkong; the 
sixth, that at Calcutta ; — thus belting the globe, which 
with the Observatory of Paramatta, in Port Jackson 
Harbour, Australia, and that at the Cape of Good 
Hop§, would insure, with one on the Falkland Islands 
and another in Jamaica, all the auxiliary means neces- 
sary to enlarge British astronomical and meteorolo- 
gical science, for the extension of the commerce and 
resources of an Empire which alone now commands 
the requisites to circle the world we dwell upon, not 
only with her military but with her civil and scientific 
institutions. 

But to revert to the affairs of Upper Canada; the 
Lieutenant-governor, who succeeded General Hunter, 
was Francis Gore, Esq., in 1806, — and he returning on 
leave to England, in 1811, the administration fell to 
the senior military officer, by a rule of the Colonial 
department now general in the Colonies. 

This officer was the hero of the country, — the brave, 
the excellent, and the lamented General Sir Isaac 



CANADA. 5 1 

Brock, — who retained the post of honour but a short 
period, dying in the arms of victory in October, 
1812. 

Major-general Sir Roger Sheaffe succeeded for one 
year more, then Major-general de Rottenburg, and 
then Lieutenant-general Sir Gordon Drummond, who 
was declared Provisional Lieutenant-governor on the 
13th December, 1813 ; being succeeded in the same 
post, in 1815, by Lieutenant-general Sir George Mur- 
ray, the late Master-general of the Ordnance. His 
Excellency held this post for a short time only ; and on 
his return to Europe, the administration was assumed 
by Major-general Sir Frederick Robinson, who con- 
tinued in office until the return of Lieutenant-governor 
Gore to his post in September, 1815. Since which 
time, with two short temporary administrations by 
the Honourable Mr. Smith, the province was governed, 
until the Union, by Major-general Sir Peregrine 
Maitland, Major-general Sir John Colborne (now 
Lord Seaton), Sir Francis Bond Head, formerly of the 
Royal Engineers; Colonel Sir George Arthur, a Major- 
General with local rank only, — and who was the last of 
the Lieutenant-governors of Upper Canada. 

It was in the reign of Lieutenant - governor Gore 
that the troubles of this fine province began ; and as 
Lower Canada had no concern in them then, we may 
now state that they first showed themselves in the 
disgust manifested by the American settlers, who had 
not obtained their patents for the land which General 
Simcoe had so liberally granted them, and which they 
had opened and partially cultivated. 

The Sedition Act, above mentioned, caused great 
d 2 



52 CANADA, 

confusion for nearly two years before Lieutenant- 
governor Gore was sworn in, and was even animad- 
verted upon by a judge and a grand jury, as tending 
to injure the country, by creating distrust amongst the 
people; and from this date agitators constantly ap- 
peared, until the war of 1812 broke out in all its fury. 
It would be uninteresting to detail the conduct of 
Sheriff Wilcocks, or of the grievous misunderstanding 
between the Lieutenant - governor and Chief - justice 
Thorpe, the Surveyor -general Wyatt, or of the very 
undignified proceedings of the House of Assembly in 
1810, respecting a pamphlet which had been printed 
in England, and which it voted a libel on that House 
and the constituted authorities ; and even went so far 
as to address the Governor, declaring it so to be. 
The climax to this state of things was however put by 
the war, which naturally drove many of the disaffected 
across the frontier; and in 1817, after Governor Gore 
had left the country entirely, Mr. Gourlay resumed the 
trade of a grievance-monger with the greatest success. 
This man, who is still living, was the first to endea- 
vour to inform his countrymen in Britain (which he 
had left from some difficulties) of the real state of 
affairs in Upper Canada; and had he possessed mo- 
deration, with a certain share of the industrial talent 
which was in his nature, he would have proved of the 
greatest use to his adopted land. 

But after obtaining the best statistical information 
respecting the Colony which has ever been published, 
he got into collision with the members of what has 
since been known as i€ The Family Compact," or, in 
other words, the original race of loyalists who held the 



CANADA. 53 

best share of the lands and offices; and, as Dr. Dunlop 
observed in his place in the Legislature, was most 
harshly and somewhat cruelly treated, by being long 
confined in a dungeon, which destroyed his health, and 
then banished for ever. The great cause for all this 
appears, now that the angry passions it engendered 
have subsided, to have been his activity as a reformer 
of abuses ; but as he was, it seems, not at all desirous 
to separate the Colony from the mother country, it 
would have been wiser and better to have let him alone, 
as his very writings in the newspapers of the day, and 
his three thick octavo volumes upon Upper Canada, 
show that he was more a visionary enthusiast than a 
dangerous man, and the consequence of the measures 
pursued against him was, the natural creation of an 
hornet's nest, which has ever since embarrassed the 
Government. Indeed, so sensible are all reflecting 
people of his flightiness and comparative innocence and 
insignificance, that I saw him on board of a steamboat 
in Canada during the rebellion, — and although he was 
an outlaw, and every man might then have lawfully 
destroyed him, no one thought it worth while to 
trouble themselves about the poor old man, who was 
even petitioning the Parliament for a restoration of his 
rights, and a recompence for his injuries. 

I do not know, gentle reader, if ever you have seen 
his work ; I am certain that you have never had half 
the patience with it that I have had, for I have read 
it, and such a jumble, perhaps, never before went 
through the press, mixed up however with more sterl- 
ing information respecting the country it treats of, 
than any other book extant; the diamond is in the 



54 , CANADA. 

dunghill, but it requires much scratching and scraping 
to find it 5 and it is very dirty work, and when the 
brilliant is picked out, as the cock in the fable says, 
a good grain of wheat is better. 

Gourlay was the forerunner of William Lyon Mac- 
kenzie, who possessed unwearying assiduity in griev- 
ance-seeking, the same continued resistance to " The 
Family Compact/' and the same aptitude at calculating 
the extent of the difficulties he could create. 

Gourlay's crime was a very common one in all colo- 
nies, — that of setting up his own opinions against the 
formidable array of those who are in possession of 
place and of power, and who frequently in the small 
colonies imagine themselves to be a distinct order of 
the state, and that it is little less than treason to think 
differently upon colonial matters with them even on 
the most trifling subjects. 

That Gourlay must have created great mischief at 
the time, and paved the way to all subsequent miseries, 
cannot be doubted, as those who knew Sir Peregrine 
Maitland's character will never for a moment suppose 
that he at least was actuated by other than the purest 
motives in denouncing the firebrand, for a milder or 
a more equitable Governor never trod the shores of 
Lake Ontario. 

We have now reached an epoch in Canadian history 
which renders it necessary to retrace our steps before 
we blend the destinies of the two provinces into one 
story, and to turn therefore to the Lower province after 
the conquest by Wolfe. 

Mr. Pitt, in his projected separation of Canada into 
two governments, had, as we have seen, met with stern 



CANADA. 55 

and uncompromising opposition from his rival Fox, 
who succeeded in defeating the project of an hereditary 
nobility, and suggested the nomination of councillors 
for life by the Crown, to which the Premier reluctantly 
assented, — and the first Parliament cf Lower Canada 
was assembled in 1792, under Lieutenant-governor 
Clarke and Lord Dorchester, who had held the reins 
ever since 1786, and was replaced by General Prescott 
in 1797 ; nothing material however occurred worthy of 
notice from the date of the Colony having received the 
boon of a local legislature. 

This officer was chiefly embarrassed by continued 
complaints against the favouritism of the Land Board, 
and he was succeeded temporarily by Sir Robert Mimes 
in 1800, who was replaced upon the aspect of another 
American war by Sir James Craig, — a general-officer of 
great merit, who soon found that his civil as well as 
his military office was likely to be burthensome ; for 
the Assembly, elated by its unusual powers, endeavoured 
to render itself independent of control, and a news- 
paper called The Canadian, was started to oppose his 
administration, which he at once suppressed. 

The ministry of the day recalled him, and appointed 
the well-known Sir George Prevost in 1811, just 
previous to the alarming hostilities with the United 
States ; which broke out in 1812, with the most 
sanguine prospects by the Republicans of the con- 
quest of Canada. 

Sir George, a man of great talent, but perhaps more 
of a statesman than a general, was at first extremely 
popular. No preceding Governor- general had expe- 
rienced so difficult a position as that in which he was 



56 CANADA. 

placed, with a factious Parliament to control, and an 
enterprizing enemy at his door. 

The tocsin of war sounded throughout the land; 
the Roman Catholic clergy, apprehensive that the 
Republican government of the United States, in case 
the conquest of Canada should be perfected, would 
not be very ready to acknowledge the freedom upon 
religious subjects which they had hitherto enjoyed; 
and the French Canadians as a body disliking les 
sacres Bostonais infinitely more than they disliked 
their heretic masters, from whom they had only re- 
ceived support and kindness, rose en masse upon the 
prospect of invasion, the priesthood preaching loyalty 
and royalty, and the people throwing aside their agri- 
cultural habits, shouldering the musket as one man in 
defence of King George, and of their beloved Canada. 

In the Upper province the same results with the 
British race took effect; disaffection and grumbling 
ceased, notwithstanding the vain-glorious boasting of 
the American officials that Canada required no soldiers, 
and only the pen, to subjugate it to the yoke of Repub- 
licanism. Sir George Prevost was enabled with the 
trifling force of only 4,500 regulars, assisted by the 
great moral strength of a determined militia, to keep 
the whole military resources of the national enemy 
in check, and to preserve to Great Britain the brightest 
jewel of her Crown until the Napoleon wars were 
terminated, and the armies of the mother country were 
available against an attack upon her territories, which, 
but for those wars, and the embroiled state of Europe, 
would never have been attempted. 

I have not entered upon the events of the French 



CANADA. 57 

war at the commencing chapter of this work, because 
the book is not professedly historical, and there are 
really so few readers of modern history now-a-days 
that even great pains taken to develope the obscure 
and almost unknown history of a neighbouring colony, 
Newfoundland, from sources difficult to obtain and 
ancient black-letter books, now extremely rare, was said 
to be very dry reading ; besides, the general tenor of 
events is better known as relates to Canadian affairs, 
and therefore require handling lightly, and to be suc- 
cinctly and clearly remodelled. 

The American government calmly witnessed England 
engaged in a struggle for liberty and religion, which 
had placed Europe in panoply, and had brought the 
Huns and the Goths of modern times once more upon 
the fertile plains of France and Italy, — the protectors, 
however, instead of the destroyers of civilization ; that 
government, founded upon the Utopian scheme of 
equality and unlimited freedom, aimed the most deadly 
blow at both, which England had throughout her 
magnanimous career against the Corsican lawgiver and 
conqueror ever sustained. 

Distracted by the prospect of an attack upon all her 
transatlantic Colonies, alarmed, from the precedent of 
Washington, that her deadly enemies would eventually 
be again brought into the American field of war, 
Britain trusted to the sense and to the honour of her 
Canadian subjects to fight her Christian battle until 
she should, by the aid of her continental allies, crush 
the hydra, whose coronetted heads had overshadowed 
every other European throne. 

Her Canadian children answered the appeal, as we 
d 3 



58 CANADA. 

have observed, by a simultaneous rush to arms, and 
the peaceful tillers of the earth ranged themselves in 
battalions under their feudal chiefs, or under their 
magistrates and gentry, as if the old French glory of 
arms had suddenly revived, and the spirit of Peter 
the Hermit, and of Bayard, had filled the priesthood 
and the people with unbounded zeal for a new crusade 
against the oppressors of the Catholic church. 

The first British Governor of Lower Canada, General 
Murray, stated that the population soon after the con- 
quest amounted to 69,275, and was composed almost 
entirely of a race of French, permanently settled along 
the shores of the St. Lawrence, and chiefly on the 
left bank, on small contiguous farms, their character 
being that of an industrious, contented, frugal, and 
very moral people, who passed a happy existence under 
a rural noblesse, far from rich, excepting in comfort 
and in the affections of their dependents. They were 
poor from various causes, — that of the feudal system 
of allotments of land, descending in a species of 
gavel-kind amongst all the children of a family of 
cultivators, being one primary reason which still acts 
upon the French farmers of Lower Canada; and 
another, that the French government had declined 
paying the defalcations of the treasury, in the bills 
and paper currency of the last intendant of the 
finances, who is stated by competent authority to 
have involved the province to the enormous amount of 
nearly three millions and a half sterling ; which, how- 
ever by recent accounts, appears to have been rather 
too largely imagined. 

The conquest, therefore, conferred benefits upon the 



CANADA. 59 

Colonists which were of the utmost importance ; as a 
settled rule, the faith of the British Government and 
an ample enjoyment of freedom of person and faith 
was ensured. 

The first error committed was a natural one, and 
one that was also committed by our Norman ancestors 
at the Conquest. The British traders, then neither 
numerous nor highly respectable, who supplied the 
camp and the government, attained to important 
offices in the magistracy and state ; and upon them 
and upon military men, situations of profit or of 
honour were exclusively conferred. 

The Governor, therefore, was very soon embroiled ; 
these newly-made gentry felt their power quickly, and 
made the French feel it also, whilst with that uniform 
arrogance which characterizes uninformed and under- 
bred men, in all civilized society, they domineered 
over the Canadian representatives of the time-honoured 
families of ancient France, contemptuously considering 
a poor French nobleman, whose family reached to the 
Carlovingian or Merovingian dynasties, as infinitely 
beneath the notice of a mushroom shopkeeper or an 
agent of the London houses of commerce ; and looked 
upon the plain, good-humoured, simple peasantry as 
merely occupying territory which belonged, by right of 
arms, to their countrymen. 

This pride of official station, which has embarrassed 
many other transatlantic Governors since the days of 
General Murray, was sternly repressed by that good 
officer, who took the abused noblesse under his per- 
sonal protection, soothed their wounded pride, and 
treated the constant attacks upon his character and 



60 CANADA. 

conduct, which even went so far as to be repre- 
sented to the Home Government as unbearable, with 
the coolness of contempt ; and eventually not only 
obtained the respect and confidence of the people, 
but mainly assisted in the subsequent development 
of their loyalty and gratitude to the British Crown. 

They rejected with disdain the offer of being 
admitted to a participation in the American Union ; 
and when Arnold and Montgomery were sent to 
subjugate them, in 1775, by the capture of Quebec 
and Montreal, the French Canadians taught the 
Americans a lesson, which they have never forgotten 
and have never forgiven. 

Sir Guy Carleton was the Governor of Canada ; 
and after escaping from Montreal, with great diffi- 
culty, threw himself into Quebec, — where he had only 
1,800 men under arms, of which seventy only were 
regulars ; the rest militia, sailors, or some old soldiers 
of a disbanded corps of Highlanders. 

The result is well known ; .for although Arnold had 
possessed himself of the Heights of Abraham, and 
attempted the repetition of Wolfe's stratagem, both 
Montgomery and Arnold signally failed, either in their 
design of drawing out an inferior force from the only 
stronghold left in the country, or to storm it in a 
night assault. Montgomery, whose military renown 
is enrolled on the pages of history, fell ; Arnold was 
wounded, — and thus ended the hopes of the sanguine 
Americans. The worst feature in this eventful siege is> 
that Montgomery, who deserved, from his talents and 
courage, a better fate, had served under Wolfe, and 
was a British subject. The adventures of Arnold are 



CANADA. 61 

better known. The treason of the former was amply 
revenged by that of the latter. 

Very little disturbance, internal or external, occurred 
until 1 790, if we except what has been already noticed, 
the growing desire for a constitution ; and when that 
was granted (as we have seen), discussions arose which 
strengthened and increased in proportion as the people 
felt the power they had gained, until the next Ame- 
rican war, in 1812, when Sir George Prevost was 
Governor-general of Canada, and experienced the 
same gallant reaction and assistance from the French 
race as his predecessors had experienced years 
before. 



62 CANADA. 



CHAPTER III. 

The War in Canada, from 1812 to 1815. 

We now arrive at a period when the affairs of 
Upper and Lower Canada become so closely inter- 
woven for three years that they cannot be separated. 

The regular troops in Upper Canada amounted only 
to 1,450 men, with a frontier of nearly a thousand 
miles to protect, and with fortresses, originally of 
the most temporary construction, in ruins. 

In Lower Canada the regular army consisted of 
3,050 men, to defend a territory reaching from the 
Ocean to the Ottawa, with ouly one fortress, and that 
in a very different state from its present condition. 

At first the inhabitants were panic-struck ; but 
being roused by an eloquent appeal to their feelings 
and patriotism by Sir George Prevost, they shook off 
their temporary delusion, and the brave Canadian 
Militia embodied themselves in Quebec, and appeared 
everywhere in arms, to fight for their natal soil and 
the preservation of their homes and their cherished 
faith. 

But the blow was not to fall on Lower Canada, as 
was at first anticipated; nearly thirty years had 



CANADA. 63 

passed since 1783, when the acknowledgment of the 
independence of the United States had disbanded its 
army, and sent its best soldiers to the plough or to the 
rust of retirement. Thus it was found impracticable 
either to form the personnel or the materiel, for such 
a siege as that of the strongest fortress in America, 
weak though it had become from the neglect of a 
long peace. Leaders were with great difficulty 
selected from amongst the citizen soldiers; and at 
last General Hull, a veteran of the revolutionary 
wars, w r as found, and led an army of raw recruits 
against the Western and most unprotected frontier of 
Upper Canada. 

He crossed from Detroit over the narrow lake or 
channel of that name, between Huron and Erie, on 
the 12th of July, 1812, and issued a proclamation 
remarkable for its threatenings and solicitations.* On 
the other hand he threatened to exterminate every 
Canadian found in the same battle-field with an 
Indian, and solicited the people to join him en masse, 
or, at least, to remain neutral. 

But Hull committed a serious military error,— he 
landed without heavy ordnance to support him', left a 
strong entrenched post at Amherstburg, named Fort 
Maiden, behind him, and penetrated the country, 
causing terror in the peaceable, hatred in the great 
mass of the settlers, and proving the loyalty of the 
invaded country by finding that he was joined only by 
people who had emigrated from his own native land, 

* The reader is requested to compare all the movements of the 
American generals with those of the sympathisers in 1838 ; he will 
find the latter took their lesson in tactics from the former. 



64 CANADA. 

for the purpose of carrying out American prin- 
ciples. 

The grasping spirit which the American government 
displayed in the enlargement of its territory, by the 
gradual removal of the Indian tribes to the westward, 
had exasperated that race : and no sooner had Michili- 
mackinac, the most westerly post of strength on the 
Huron and Michigan Lakes, which controlled them, 
fallen, as it speedily did after the announcement of 
hostilities, than Upper Canada was covered w T ith hordes 
of red men, seeking the British banner, and vowing 
hatred to the Big Knives, as they styled the white race 
of the United States. 

Much has been written, and much has been said 
about the employment of the savage Indian in our 
wars ; but it appears to me that dreadful as the effects 
of his treacherous courage undoubtedly are, it was 
perfectly justifiable against an enemy who sought the 
occasion of the embarrassment of his parent, in an 
unexampled struggle, which had involved the European 
world against an Alexander w r ho lived only for con- 
quest, and who made temple and tower go down as it 
suited his caprice, or, as he vainly imagined, the star 
of his destiny indicated. 

General Brock, finding that Hull had committed 
the mistakes we have noticed, assembled his whole 
available force on the Niagara frontier; and in one 
month after the first day of the invasion, arrived, on 
the 12th of August, at Amherstburgh, where he 
collected the militia of Indians, — and with not more 
than 350 troops of the line, 600 Indian warriors, and 
400 militia, then unused to arms, boldly advanced into 



CANADA. 65 

the United States against Hall; who had taken the 
very prudent resolution of recrossing the river, and 
had shut himself up, with about 800 men, in Detroit, 
with all his battering-train, which he had been col- 
lecting to reduce Fort Maiden, a mere mud-work. 

The amusing boast of Hull, that he came to annex 
Upper Canada to the United States of America, and 
that the Bald Eagle would worry the Old Lion, until 
he was shipped across the Atlantic, and would even 
then beard him in his den, — for, in other words, his 
proclamation meant all this, — ended in the farce of a 
white flag being instantly hoisted on the entrenched 
camp at Detroit, as soon as the gallant Brock and his 
little army landed near that position. 

The feeble-minded and the wavering in the Canadas 
were now reassured ; they said that the memorable 
speech of Mr. Clay was really as little prophetic as a 
speech could well be. " It is absurd," said that 
statesman in Congress, in a debate upon the probabi- 
lities of the war, " to suppose we shall not succeed in 
our enterprise against the enemy's provinces; we have 
the Canadas as much under command as Great Britain 
has the Ocean. We must take the Continent from 
them. I never wish to see a peace until we do." 
The Americans have tried the experiment three times, 
and have been three times signally defeated; and 
every time the Canadian Militia have shown that they 
are not disposed to part so readily with a country 
which they prophecy may yet become of as much 
importance in the world as that of their neighbours. 

I am fully persuaded that Mackenzie deeply repented 
his alliance with the sympathizers, who merely made 



66 CANADA. 

a tool of him, and would have soon thrown him off, 
had they succeeded in their very neighbourly and 
charitable designs ; and I feel equally persuaded that 
if Papineau would speak his sentiments, that his great 
object was the absolute independence of la nation 
Canadienne and not that of being enrolled under the 
Stars and the Eagle, — only he did not foresee that, 
unaided by England, his nation would soon have 
become pretty much in the same predicament as the 
Frenchmen remaining in Louisiana are now in, without 
a language, and without a political existence, scarcely 
recollected in the world, and absorbed altogether in 
the vortex of an Anglo-Saxon democracy of a nature 
which itself cannot endure, mixing as it does the oil 
and vinegar of liberty and slavery with universal 
religious toleration, and the bigotry of the Puritans 
against Roman Catholicism, the aristocracy of wealth 
with the chartism of equality ; and, above all, an eager 
desire to extend an empire already too large to control 
effectively, considering the very opposite commercial 
and agricultural interests embraced. In short, it is 
an absolute blessing, abstractedly considered, that the 
Canadas promise so well to be a powerful state under 
monarchical institutions, and that thev will remain under 
British rule for the very many years which must elapse 
before they are strong enough to become an ally 
instead of a dependent of their glorious protector. 

The fierce principles of modern Republicanism will 
thus receive a continual check and lesson from the 
more moderate tone of society under a constitutional 
monarchy ; and the balance of power will be so poised, 
that the scale in which real liberality and toleration is 



CANADA. 67 

placed must always preponderate, whilst furious reli- 
gious w^ars will meet with neither countenance nor 
support. 

Canada will hereafter be to the United States of 
America, throughout all the modern unions down to 
the Southern Ocean, what Great Britain has been to 
Europe, — the refuge and the fountain, the fortress of 
protection from extreme political excitement, and the 
well of living waters which shall feed and nourish the 
persecuted soul. There slavery is, and ever will be, 
unknown : there man traffics not in the bone and 
muscle of his fellow-man, merely because Nature has 
endowed him with more cunning or more power, and 
a differently-coloured skin. There, as in England, the 
religious convictions of a fellow-creature, however 
absurd they may be, are sacred, — and altars, anchorites, 
and females devoted to the services of an ancient and 
once a predominant faith, are secure from desecration 
and from conflagration, or from the unhallowed in- 
trusions and insults of a howling mob of the half- 
instructed mechanics and labourers of a city of 
yesterday. 

General Hull, — a veteran of a new country, in whom 
was reposed the hopes of its citizens, — paid the penalty 
of its rashness and of his own want of foresight. He 
was tried by a council of war, and condemned to be 
shot ; but his age and services saved him from that 
ignominy, and he was spared, only to be held up as 
a warning to future adventurers in the scheme of 
aggrandizement. 

The cabinet of the United States, however, deter- 
mined upon the conquest, and he was replaced in the 



68 



CANADA. 



command of the North-western army by General Van 
Rensellaer, of an ancient Dutch family, which had long 
possessed domains of great extent ini:he old province 
of New York, and who led a disorderly army of 6,000 
men once more against Upper Canada. He chose a 
new scene; and accordingly on the 13th of October of 
the same year crossed the Niagara river at Queenston. 

But the Union was not an union of opinion, for the 
New England confederacy, suffering by the almost 
total prostration of its Atlantic commerce, refused to 
join with its contingencies of militia in carrying on the 
war ; and thus a second invasion, better planned and 
better executed, again signally failed. 

Sir Isaac Brock, collecting his small forces, assailed 
the position of the American General upon Queenston 
Heights, — a position chosen in the full anticipation of 
its impregnability, but possessing one feature which 
had been strangely overlooked, that of bordering on 
the wild and terrible precipices which overhang the 
pent-up stream of the Great St. Lawrence, there strug- 
gling for an exit into the expanse of Ontario. A hard 
fought action resulted, at the close of which Brock and 
his aide-de-camp McDonald fell in the arms of victory; 
for the American army having retreated, were soon 
afterwards compelled to surreuder by General Sheaffe. 
The scene, in which the unfortunate invaders lost all 
command of themselves, and were consequently beyond 
military control, was dreadful ; the British bayonet pur- 
sued the fugitives to the awful precipice, and numbers 
were hurled over to find death in the leap into a 
raging river. 

Undismayed, however, the American army was re- 



CANADA. 69 

organized under General Smyth ; who on the 28th of 
November crossed the Niagara higher up, near its exit 
from Lake Erie, at Black Rock, where the Canadian 
village of Waterloo now stands, but below the Rapids. 
Here they were met by Lieutenant-colonel Bishopp; 
who defeated and drove them back with his brave 
militia to their own territory, notwithstanding that 
their force at Black Rock amounted to 4,500 men of 
all arms, and his did not exceed 600; and after threat- 
ening another descent on Lake Erie, a mile or two 
further west, w T here the British had a fort, the third 
invasion of Canada ended as its forerunners had done. 

It now became a war of outposts. Captain McDon- 
nell crossed from Prescott on the ice of the St. Lawrence 
to attack the American garrison of Ogdensburgh, which 
he defeated with singular gallantry, capturing their 
military stores and cannon \ but the rigours of winter 
suspended further operations, and both sides occupied 
it in preparing for a vigorous campaign in 1813. 

Sackett's Harbour, on Lake Ontario, was now chosen 
for the place at which the invading army was to assem- 
ble, and the command was given to General Dearborn, 
whilst a large flotilla under Commodore Chauncey was 
to co-operate with him for the reduction of Little 
York, the capital of the Upper Province, which then 
contained along its extensive frontier no more than 
2,100 British regulars. 

York w T as garrisoned, in a miserable earthwork, by 
General Sheaffe w 7 ith 600 men, chiefly militia, and, to 
his surprise, he was assailed on the 27th of April 1813, 
by 2,000 Americans; it fell after several hours' desultory 
fighting, in which the British Canadians suffered dread- 



70 CANADA. 

fully, and the American Brigadier -general Pike was 
killed by the explosion of the powder-magazine, which 
a jion-commissioned officer of the royal artillery bravely 
set fire to after the work had been abandoned, and 
which killed or severely wounded upwards of 200 of 
the assailants. 

Here the invaders destroyed all the public property, 
and remained until the 1st of May, after liberating all 
the militia officers on parole who had been taken or 
surrendered upon capitulation. The military chest 
escaped, by, as it is stated, being buried in the woods 
by the commissary ; who for his gallantry was after- 
wards rewarded with large grants of land, and is 
now, or was lately, one of the magnates of Toronto. 
General Sheaffe retreated towards Kingston, and saved 
the remainder of his little band, who had so much 
distinguished themselves. 

Newark, or Niagara, the British head -quarters in 
Upper Canada, was the next object of Dearborn's 
attack, with the whole of his army and fleet, and the 
powerful assistance of the old French fort Niagara, which 
had been well armed and strengthened. Lieutenant- 
general Vincent, to oppose this formidable attack, had 
not more than 1,300 men; the chief part, however, 
being regular troops. Four thousand Americans, after 
destroying the defences by a cannonade, landed on the 
27th of May, 1813; and the British finding the post 
untenable, retreated to Burlington Heights. 

To counteract this successful invasion, a fleet was 
manned and prepared at Kingston, under Commodore 
Yeo; and Sir George Prevost, the Governor -general, 
advanced with it to destroy the naval and military 



CANADA. 71 

depot at Sackett's Harbour, which had been left un- 
protected. 

This was the first reverse of a serious nature which 
the regulars and militia of Upper Canada had expe- 
rienced ; for Sir George after landing effected nothing, 
and retreated. 

To counterbalance this misfortune, which depressed 
the spirit of the troops and of the people, Colonel 
Procter advanced from Detroit against another division 
of the American army, destined to recover Detroit, 
and to invade Canada at another point, under General 
Winchester, and which had reached with a force of 
1,000, to Frenchtown, about twenty-five miles from 
Detroit. Here he boldly attacked them with 500 men, 
and an auxiliary force of nearly the same number of 
Indians, on the 22nd of January, 1813, and so com- 
pletely defeated them, after a hard fought action, taking 
almost all the survivors prisoners, amongst whom was 
Winchester; whose coadjutor, General Harrison, on 
hearing of this reverse, entrenched himself at the Hapids 
of the Miami River. 

The indefatigable Procter, receiving intelligence of 
this assemblage, started from Amherstburgh, to which 
he had returned, with an increased force of 1,000 
troops of the line and militia, and more than 1,000 
Indians, arid attacking Harrison in his stronghold on 
the 1st of May, so paralyzed him that all his schemes 
of invasion were frustrated. The war then raged in 
the Niagara district; for Generals Chandler and Winder 
were despatched with 4,000 men from Niagara to bring 
Vincent's army to action at Burlington. 

The position chosen to effect this was Stony Creek, 



72 CANADA. 

a small stream running into the Ontario, in the town- 
ship of Saltfieet, where it crosses the road from Niagara 
to Burlington Bay, at about seven or eight miles from 
the town of Hamilton. Here the two generals halted, 
to prepare for their ulterior measures, which were so 
combined as to surround and destroy the little Canadian 
army. 

I cannot help, as a military man, dwelling a little 
upon the result, for two reasons ; the first, because it 
gave rise to one of the most brilliant stratagems of the 
war ; and the second, that I am writing this book next 
door to that Government-house in which the hero of 
the action is now living, honoured and respected by all 
true-hearted subjects of the Atlantic provinces of Great 
Britain. 

The American generals encamped in the utmost 
security, favoured by a strong position, and confident 
in the overpowering force they had marched thus far 
into the bowels of the land. 

Lieut.-colonel Harvey, then on the Staff, was em- 
ployed to reconnoitre the camp; and having carefully 
ascertained its exact position and the nature of its 
defences, suggested to Major-general Vincent that 
a night attack and surprise, if executed with vigi- 
lance and judgment, would, no doubt, under all 
the circumstances, prove successful. He was imme- 
diately selected for this service, and entrusted with 
the execution of his own daring plan ; and leading 
704 men of the 8th and 49th Regiments, on the 
night of the 5th June, 1813, surprised and com- 
pletely routed 3,500 of the best troops of the inva- 
ders at the point of the bayonet, taking both 



CANADA. 73 

Generals Chandler and Winder prisoners, 7 inferior 
officers, and 116 men, with several pieces of cannon, 
withdrawing his gallant companions only as day- 
light appeared, and obliging the enemy to retreat 
to Forty-mile Creek, in the township of Grimsby; 
where, hearing that the English Commodore was 
on his way to reinforce Vincent, they abandoned 
all hopes, and returned to Niagara, — sending how- 
ever thence a force of 700 men, under Colonel 
Boerstler, to dislodge the British advanced piquet at 
the Beaver Dam, which had most inconveniently placed 
itself so as to intercept their communications.* This 
spirited and well-conceived action turned the whole 
tide of the war, and paralyzed all the future projects 
of the enemy ; for had it not occurred, Vincent's 
division would probably have fallen with the whole 
of the Niagara peninsula into their power. It taught 
the over-confident what can be achieved by disciplined 
troops ; and, brave as the Americans are, it showed 
them that on fair terms of war the use of the rifle will 
never supersede that of the musket, and that bush- 
fighting can never raise the fame of a soldiery, or be 
mistaken for valour. 

* In speaking, on one occasion, to an officer of rank regarding the 
use of the bayonet, he said that Stony Creek proved its terrible 
power. He had instructed four men to put an enemy hors de combat, 
without noise ; and advancing with them silently towards the Ame- 
ricans bivouacked at Stony Creek, he was challenged by the first 
sentry " Who goes there ? " answer " Friend 1" and immediately two 
bayonets were crossed, and the sentry fell off the weapons without a 
word ; the second experienced the same fate, but the third, making a 
slight noise " as a fowl would make," a volley from the picket was the 
consequence, but it did little damage in the dark. The officer and his 
men then rushed on, the surprised Americans were routed, and their 
generals captured. Such are some of the dreadful effects of war ! — 
Editor. 

VOL. I. E 



74 CANADA. 

The gallant officer who achieved this splendid feat, 
entered the army in his early youth, in the year 1794 ; 
and at the age of sixteen planted the colours of the 
80th Regiment, — commanded by Lord Paget, the pre- 
sent Marquess of Anglesea, — the first upon the Dike 
of the Wahl, when General (Sir David) Dundas, with 
20 battalians of infantry, on the 31st December, drove 
the French across that river. 

In 1796, this young officer was one of that expe- 
dition which captured the Cape of Good Hope and the 
Dutch fleet, in Saldanha Bay. He afterwards served 
in Ceylon ; and crossed the Desert of Thebes as a 
Brigade-major of the Indian army, under Sir David 
Baird — who marched, in 1800, to the relief of the army 
of Egypt. Returning to India, he took the field with 
the Madras forces, and was appointed aide-de-camp 
to Major-general Dowdeswell of the Guards, who 
commanded a wing of the Bengal army under Lord 
Lake. 

On arriving at Agra, on his way to join, he per- 
formed a feat which may be shortly alluded to, and 
which brought him at once under that distinguished 
officer's notice. At Agra there were several generals, 
and a number of other officers, waiting for an oppor- 
tunity to join the army then in the field, with which 
all communication had been cut off by the enemy's 
irregulars. Obtaining leave to make the attempt to 
join, he borrowed a friend's horse and set off at 
midnight, and safely reached the camp, after numerous 
" hair-breadth scapes," from which he got out by the 
excellence of his horse, his own complete command of 
the animal, and his caution and courage. " Ce n'est 



CANADA. 75 

que le premiere pas qui coute." This enterprising and 
gallant act was the u flood which led on to fortune/' 
and the officer who had so distinguished himself went 
through the campaigns against Holkar and Scindiah 
with the approbation and countenance of his great 
commander. He returned with Lord Lake from India 
in 1807, and was subsequently upon the Staff as 
Assistant Quartermaster-general in England, as As- 
sistant Adjutant-general in Ireland, and, in 1812, as 
Deputy Adjutant-general with the Canadian army; 
and married that amiable and excellent lady, the 
daughter of his chief, Viscount Lake. 

In December, 1812, on arriving at Halifax, he found 
that the war with America was raging in Canada, and 
determined to join. Lieutenant-colonel Harvey under- 
took the perilous pass of the forests of the disputed 
territory, — then never attempted by any other person 
than Indians or Canadian coureurs des Bois since the 
experiment of Lord Edward Fitzgerald. He walked 
through the eternal forest, deep with accumulated 
snows, one hundred and fifty miles on Indian snow- 
shoes, and slept five nights with no other canopy than 
the sky, and the thermometer ranging from twenty to 
thirty degrees below the zero of Fahrenheit. 

This adventurous journey led the way to that con- 
stant passage of troops which has since occurred, and 
proved the salvation of the Canadas, as reinforcements 
of soldiers and sailors were sent by it immediately 
afterwards in 1813.* 

* Hence the necessity for a military road of 550 miles from 
Halifax to Quebec, on the exploration and survey of which the 
Editor was engaged in 1844-45 ; but a cry for a railway placed the 
military road in abeyance. 

E 2 



76 CANADA. 

I need not follow the history of Lieutenant-colonel 
Harvey's Canadian services, as they have been already 
mentioned ; but it is beyond doubt that the advice he 
tendered led to the results which followed, of driving 
the invaders everywhere from the soil. Stony Creek 
changed the face of the war; the American army 
instead of overruning the province was held in check 
by a vastly inferior force and cooped up in Fort 
George, which it was at last obliged to abandon, and 
then was even driven from his own stronghold. Fort 
Niagara, Chrystler's Farm, Oswego, Lundy's Lane, 
Fort Erie, Chippewa, record the talents of Lieutenant- 
colonel Harvey; who on returning to England was 
sent out, in 1824, as a Commissioner on the part of 
Government for the affairs of the Canada Land Com- 
pany. Next year he was made Aide-de-camp to the 
King ; and in 1828, appointed to the charge of the 
Constabulary armed force for Leinster, — which office he 
held for eight years with the highest credit and honour 
to himself. 

Colonel* Harvey's service in the four quarters of the 
globe gave him the soldier's reward, — the Star of the 
Bath and that of the Guelph ; and in 1836, he was 
sent out to Prince Edward's Island as Lieutenant- 
governor, from which he was removed to the more 
important government of New Brunswick in 1837; 
where he distinguished himself by his admirable con- 
duct respecting the Boundary dispute, by sending all 
his disposable troops to the succour of Canada, and 
by offering to march 5,000 militiamen to assist in 
garrisoning Quebec, and in keeping the districts below 
it quiet. 



CANADA. 77 

In 1841, Sir John Harvey was sent to accomplish 
the difficult task of governing Newfoundland, where 
for centuries naval supremacy and naval law had been 
predominant, and which was for the first time be- 
coming one of the Colonies of Great Britain. The 
singular good-fortune of this accomplished soldier in 
having eecaped through such a series of arduous 
campaigns as those of Holland, the coast of France, 
Egypt, India, and Canada, comparatively un wounded, 
is one of those rare occurrences which have distin- 
guished the pre-eminent warriors of the last century. 
He had repeatedly suffered the loss of horses shot 
under him, and at Oswego, amidst a heavy fire, 
when the Commodore Sir James Yeo was hit in five 
places, whilst leaning on his arm to assist himself in 
ascending with tlue troops from the beach^he remained 
untouched. Sir John, was, in short, only wounded 
once in the course of a life of active actual service 
which has few parallels. He is now Governor of Nova 
Scotia. 

Another laurel was gained by the 49th. Lieutenant 
Fitzgibbon, of that corps, now a Colonel of the 
Canadian Militia,* and lately high in office, who is 
a personal friend, and wiiom I delight in recollecting, 
effected another military ruse. Unable to cope with 
a large American force at the " Beaver Dam," with 
a mere piquet cf regulars and Indians, he detached 
his Indians in the woods, and made such warlike 
demonstrations round the Americans, that, at last, 
finding he had surprised his adversary not a little, he 
boldly advanced with a flag of truce, and commanding 
* A Military Knight at Windsor. — Editor. 



78 CANADA. 

immediate surrender in the name of a field-officer, who 
was in nubibus, or elsewhere, upon pain of immediate 
extermination by the infuriated savages. 

Lieutenant-colonel Boerstler at first refused to believe 
him ; but Lieutenant Fitzgibbon having detained him 
in conversation until the Indians had passed his flanks 
and got into the rear, where they occasionally displayed 
themselves at intervals in the thick woods, the 
unfortunate officer was completely deceived, fancied 
himself hemmed in to destruction, and then surren- 
dered at discretion; soon finding, however, after he 
had laid down his arms to the Lieutenant's detach- 
ment of the 49th, that he might have w T alked over his 
conquerors, whose only difficulty was that of securing 
their panic-stricken prisoners. 

I recollect a similar attempt at mystification by an 
excellent young officer of Engineers, in Portugal, 
which, however, met with a different fate. This 
officer, reconnoitring a position of the French army 
under Junot, found himself suddenly, in a thick fog, 
in presence of a squadron of heavy cavalry. His pre- 
sence of mind, — that most invaluable gift of Nature to 
a soldier, — never forsook him, although he was sur- 
rounded by the frowning countenances of the mus- 
tachioed warriors, whose sabres seemed ready to chop 
him into minced-meat. Riding up to the Commander, 
a gray-headed veteran of a hundred battles, he told him 
that the French outpost of Cavalry was surrounded by 
a superior British force, and summoned him imme- 
diately to follow him and surrender, hoping, I suppose, 
in the fog and confusion, he himself would be able to 
manage an escapade. 



CANADA. 79 

The old French chevalier, not a whit daunted, 
smiled and twirled his hairy lip. "Eh bien, mon 
camarade, comme vous etes malin, mais, diantre ! non- 
obstant, brave comme le diable, jeune, bien jeune, 
encore, rendez, s^il vous plait, votre jolie epee, ou je 
vous ferai Phonneur d'un coup de grace ; neanmoins, 
d'ailleurs, mon brave, je suis vieux oiseau, / am not, 
sar, to be taken wis de chaff" So Monsieur le 
Lieutenant du genie was handed over to Marshal 
Junot, who kept him at his table in admiration of the 
enterprising spirit displayed by a youth just out of 
the military school. 

The Americans were now driven from every part of 
Canada except Niagara ; and Colonel Bishopp in an 
attempt to capture their depot at Black Rock, in 
which he succeeded, fell gloriously, whilst the British 
flotilla was carrying the war from Lower Canada into 
the State of New York, by destroying the depot at 
Plattsburgh on Lake Champlain, and taking many 
small armed vessels. 

The war had hitherto been favourable, the Militia 
of both provinces had borne a conspicuous part; 
and for whose gallant conduct the Prince Regent 
sent a pair of colours, with the word " Niagara," to 
the Incoporated Militia of Upper Canada. These 
colours were always kept at Government -house, after 
the peace, and duly displayed upon every state occa- 
sion, in the great dining-room, as a proud memorial 
of former days. I have often seen them so displayed, 
in Sir John Colborne's time and in Sir Francis 
Head's. 

A shadow now passed over British American glory. 



80 CANADA. 

General Harrison's western army, in the autumn of 
1813, had been augmented to more than 5,000, 
amongst whom were conspicuous a race of men from 
the far western state of Kentucky, who rivalled the 
Indians in woodcraft, and considered themselves as a 
distinct people, vulgarly stating that they were " half- 
horse, half-alligator/' alluding probably to their skill 
in equestrian and " fluviatile " exercises. These men, 
unskilled in the amenities of civilized life, were the 
true pioneers of the West, and fitted well to cope with 
the original owners of the soil. 

This army had fortified the village of Sandusky 
upon Lake Erie, upwards of forty miles from Detroit, 
and at the southernmost Bay of Erie, from which they 
could easily cross to the western district of Canada. 
General Procter immediately attempted to dislodge 
them, but unavailingly, as the Americans had now a 
fleet on Lake Erie, which was larger and better 
furnished than that of the British, under the brave 
but unfortunate Barclay, who, however, brought it to 
action, and having actually compelled the American 
Commodore Perry to strike, was, by one of the 
unforseen caprices of fortune, soon afterwards obliged 
to lower the proud flag of England, and to surrender 
his whole fleet of two ships, two brigs, a schooner, 
and a sloop, mounting sixty-three guns, to an enemy 
with nine finer vessels, mounting fifty-four guns of a 
heavier weight of metal, and assisted by numerous 
gun-boats, on the 10th September, 1813 ; whilst he 
who had already lost one arm in his country's service, 
was now most severely wounded in the other. The 
best feature of the war occurred after this action; 



CANADA. 81 

Commodore Perry having forgotten national ani- 
mosities, in the kindness with which he treated his 
suffering foe. 

The immediate consequence of this victory was the 
retreat of General Procter from Ainherstburgh, up the 
Thames ; on whose banks, at Moravian Town, he halted 
and endeavoured to maintain his position, with 800 
troops and 500 Indians, having been obliged to part 
with a large force of both militia and red warriors 
for want of supplies. General Harrison penetrated 
Canada by the same route, and with 3,500 men. 

Here the little army was obliged to surrender, or 
to fly before such disproportionate numbers ; and here 
the most renowned of Indian chiefs, the brave and 
lamented warrior, Tecum seth, fell on the 5th October, 
1813, after he had led his people into a severe conflict 
with the mounted riflemen. of Kentucky, by whose 
leader he was shot. To the disgrace of some unknown 
persons, his body was treated with savage barbarity.* 
This chief was, of course, an object of extreme 
hatred on the part of the American invaders, as he 
had succeeded in uniting almost all the tribes bor- 
dering on the lakes in an union of the strictest 
confederacy, against the usurpations of the Big 
Knives; and, to complete this, the favourite scheme of 
his whole life, he had joined the British and rendered 
the most essential service to them ; in fact, without 
his aid, it is more than probable that the early part of 
the war would have been very different in its results. 

* Recently I got on this disastrous field a small old-fashioned 
breastplate marked with the number of the gallant 41st, before and 
after this so highly distinguished. — Editor. 

E 3 



82 CANADA. 

General Procter escaped as far as Ancaster, on the 
Niagara frontier, with 250 men ; and Detroit being thus 
once more restored to the United States, the American 
Cabinet, flushed with success, determined to carry 
their whole strength against Montreal, and thus 
secure the entire subjugation of Upper Canada. 

Two grand divisions of their army were accordingly 
put in motion; the first, under General Hampton, 
was to proceed into Canada from Lake Champlain, 
with 6,000 men ; the other from an island opposite to 
Kingston and near Sackett's Harbour, with 8,800 
men, or an army of invasion consisting of the im- 
posing force of 14,800. 

This grand expedition, which w T as to place- the star- 
spangled banner on the walls of Quebec, was a com- 
plete failure. Hampton marched as far, by the end of 
October, 1813, as Chateaugay on the river of that 
name, which falls into the St. Lawrence, opposite to 
Montreal Island. Here he was opposed by a look- 
out corps, under that brave French Canadian officer, 
Lieutenant-colonel De Salaberry and Lieutenant- 
colonel Mc Donnell, who, with only 800 Militia and 
170 Indians, obliged the general and his great army 
absolutely to retreat. 

The other army sailed down the St. Lawrence, 
having landed two divisions, to avoid the tremendous 
rapids of the Longue Sault, on the 11th of November 
1813. One of these divisions, under Major-general 
Boyd, encountered a detachment under Lieutenant- 
colonel Morrison, who was posted at Chrystler's 
Farm ; and after a hard-fought action, in which the 
American general, Covington, was mortally wounded, 



CANADA. 83 

the Americans were forced to retire upon their flotilla. 
The numbers upon both sides engaged were, — British 
regulars and militia 800 men,* and three guns; 
American division, six guns, and 2,500 men. 

For this splendid action, w T hich decided the cam- 
paign in 1813, a medal was granted. The grand 
army, thus roughly treated, took up their winter 
quarters at Plattsburgh, after threatening Kingston 
and Prescott. The British in the meantime were 
not idle ; and General Vincent, by a spirited advance 
against General McClure, who had been left in com- 
mand on the Niagara, obliged that portion of the 
intrusive army also to regain their own shores with 
as little delay as possible ; where it was followed by 
Colonel Murray, who surprized and stormed Fort 
Niagara. General Vincent then proceeded to destroy 
and burn the American towns of Buffalo, Black Bock, 
and Lewistown, in retaliation for the barbarous act of 
McClure, — who had, before he quitted Upper Canada, 
set fire, in the depth of a Canadian wdnter, to the 
beautiful little town of Niagara, or Newark as it was 
then called. 

At the storm of Fort Niagara, Sir John Harvey 
again distinguished himself ; and here the Canadian 
Knight, Sir Allan McNab, first came under his 
notice, — for I have heard Sir John observe, that as he 
was about to embark in one of the boats, two young 

* Colonel Morrison from Kingston, with the remains of the 49th 
and 89th, and two 6-pounders, amounting to 500 rank and file ; 
Lieut.- Colonel Pearson from Prescott, with the two flank companies 
of the 49th, Canadian Fencibles and Voltigeurs and 6 Provincial 
Dragoons, with a 6-pounder manned by Militia Artillery, in all 240 
rank and file ; and Lieut. Anderson with 30 Indians — total 800 men. 



84 CANADA. 

volunteers, with arms in their hands, earnestly entreated 
to share in the storm ; one was Sir Allan, and the 
other the present Chief-justice Robinson, of Western 
Canada. 

The campaign of 1814 began on the 30th March, 
by General Wilkinson attacking with 4,000 men the 
British post of observation, stationed in the mill of 
La Colle, on the Richelieu, where Leiutenant-colonel 
Williams with 1,500 men had strongly fortified his little 
position. Wilkinson after several determined assaults 
was forced to resume his quarters on Lake Champlain. 

The British, on the 5th May, 1814, embarked a 
force, under General Drummond and Commodore Yeo, 
from Kingston, to attack Oswego. A gallant landing 
and fight, wherein the present Governor of Nova Scotia 
again distinguished himself, caused the American com- 
mander, Colonel Mitchell, to retreat, whereby he lost 
his stores, barracks, some naval equipments, and two 
cannon. 

The war here shifted to the Niagara and Erie 
frontier, once more ; and General Brown, with 5,000 
men, took possession of Fort Erie, garrisoned by only 
170 troops; who surrendered on the 3rd July, 1814. 
Major-general Riall moved towards Chippewa to meet 
him in his march on Fort George, and his advanced 
guard met General Brown's army on the 5th July at 
Street's Creek, — or as it is now usually called, the Battle- 
ground of Chippewa. Major-generals Scott, Ripley, 
and Porter, commanded portions of the American army ; 
which was one of the best officered of the war. 

The attack commenced by the British troops, under 
Lieutenant-colonel Pearson. The overwhelming force 



CANADA. 85 

opposed to them, after a short but spirited encounter, 
in which Lieutenant-colonel Gordon, and the Mar- 
quis of Tweedale were wounded, in the act of leading 
their regiments to the charge, obliged the British to 
retreat across the river ; where they took up a position, 
which enabled General Riall to continue an unmolested 
retreat to Queenston, Fort George, and as far as 
the Twenty-mile Creek towards the Burlington Heights. 
Here he collected reinforcements and stores; and 
General Brown, having followed him as far as Fort 
George, attempted to carry it, but signally failed ; 
and was himself obliged to perform a retrograde move- 
ment to Chippewa. 

The two armies were however not very long in- 
active, but advancing towards each other met at 
Lundy's Lane, on the 25th July. Lundy's Lane is a 
rising ground upon a road leading to the interior, 
and about three-quarters of a mile from that part of 
the great Horse-shoe Fall, where it approaches the 
Niagara road from Chippewa. A thin belt of chestnut 
forest separated the American and the British armies. 

The battle,— one of the most brilliant- of the war, — 
commenced by the Americans emerging from the 
skirts of ' the wood to the south-east of the church ; 
and General Riall, forced to retire, was fortunately 
reinforced by General Drummond, who directed the 
whole brigade to take post along the ridge. 

General Scott's division commenced firing almost 
simultaneously with the British, at half-past five in 
the afternoon. The blaze of cannon and musketry, 
instead of being as usual covered in American warfare by 
the forest, was here displayed in fair field and in open 



86 CANADA. 

day for an hour, until General Seott was strengthened 
by General Brown ; who then took the command in 
person, — and about nine, a second reinforcement to the 
British, under Colonel Scott, arrived on the field. 

Both armies continued the conflict with unabated 
vigour long after darkness had covered the earth ; nor 
did it cease until within an hour of midnight. During 
the darkness, many serious mistakes on both sides 
occurred ; the British artillery was captured by Colonel 
Miller at the point of the bayonet, but soon restored to 
its proper guardians. 

The numbers of troops engaged are stated as 1,600 
British, and five guns, until nine at night; when, two 
more guns and 1,200 men joined in such utter dark- 
ness, that friend and foe were mingled fatally in some 
instances.* The Americans had 5,000 of their best 
troops throughout the action, and nine guns. The 
1,200 men, and two guns, had been nine hours on the 
march before they joined in the dark. This was, in 
fact, the most steadily hard fought action of the whole 
campaign in Upper Canada, as was proved by the 
excessive slaughter ; by General Biall having been 
wounded and taken prisoner ; by the British Com- 
mander, General Drummond, having been severely 
wounded ; and by the American Generals, Brown and 



* The Royal Scots 320 men, 89th Regiment; 41st light company ; 
the Glengarry Regiment of Militia; 120 men of the 8th Regiment; 
and some Light Dragoons: "being 815 Regulars and 785 Militia — 
total, 1,600 rank and file, with two 24-pounders, two 6-pounders, and a 
5|-inch howitzer, at the commencement of the action ; was joined at 
nine at night hy the 103rd Regiment and detachments of the Royal 
Scots, 87th and 104th Regiments, and Militia with two 6-pounders — 
altogether 1,200 rank and file, including the 19th Light Dragoons. 



CANADA. 87 

Scott, having both been so disabled that the control of 
their force remained with General Ripley. 

The Americans claim this as a victory, — it certainly 
was a strange one, for the British recaptured their 
artillery with two companies of the 41st under Captain 
Glew, who attacked their rear-guard whilst the British 
army remained on the field during the night, and 
General Ripley retired to his camp in the direction of 
Chippewa. 

Ripley, unwilling however to lose tiitr cfei^* alto- 
gether, advanced against the British line early on the 
next morning, but was received with so serious an 
aspect that he thought fit to retreat to Fort Erie ; 
which he fortified for a siege, and was replaced by 
General Gaines. 

The battle-ground of Lundy's Lane is a favourite 
spot for American visitors to the Falls of Niagara. 
I lived in Slater's Inn, at Drummondville, just below r 
the ground, on the Niagara road, for some time, in 
charge of the military reservation at the Falls, and 
used in my walks to see and hear most amusing 
scenes. A respected veteran of the battle, Major 
Leonard (who was then sheriff of the district), having 
had the misfortune to be burnt out of his house, 
which was built on part of the scene of action, lived 
for a time in the same inn ; and from this worthy and 
excellent officer, who had been most severely wounded, 
I heard many piquant anecdotes of the battle. 

He was riding one day over that part of the field 
where the beautiful chestnut lane from the Falls joins, 
or rather crosses, the road to Chippewa, when he met 
a party of American ladies and gentlemen, coming up 



88 CANADA. 

to see " the battle-ground," — as they always call a place 
where an action was fought, and as many of the trees 
still retain evident marks of the conflict, and human 
bones occasionally come to light from the nature of the 
soil, which is a sandy loam; such visitors in general 
have plenty of topics of conversation at Lundy's Lane, 
independent of the never-failing theme of American 
glory and valour. 

The sheriff, who looked every inch a soldier, was 
accosted accordingly with that easy familiarity which 
distinguishes our good brother Jonathan's intercourse 
with a stranger, when the said brother Jojiathan has 
not made the tour of Europe. 

" Well, mister, guess we are near the battle-ground V 

The Major bowed to the ladies, and pointed to 
Lundy's Lane. 

" Do you live here V } 

" I do," responded the veteran. 

" Guess you can show us," says the male spokes- 
man, "where we whipt the British ?" 

The gallant old officer was occasionally, particularly 
if his wound was troublesome, rather peppery, and his 
temper was now sorely tried, but ladies w T ere in the 
case. He put spurs to his steed, — who most ungal- 
lantly, for an old charger, lifted his heels high in the 
air and treated the party in a most undignified- manner 
(as if the animal was sensible of the extreme gaucherie 
of the speaker to an old soldier and his horse), and 
galloped off. 

I remember another rather amusing story of Lundy's 
Lane. A young subaltern of artillery used to 
say that such was the awful confusion of the battle 



CANADA. 89 

in a dark night, that when the guns were taken off 
the field, he, being a little fellow, to prevent his being 
annihilated by the bayonets of friends as w r ell as foes, 
crept under a large dock-leaf. 

Instances of individual heroism and personal combat 
were numerous in this bloody action ; which, consider- 
ing the country and the very small armies engaged, 
was the nearest in approach to regular European 
warfare that took place in Canada, - bush-fighting 
behind trees being far more common than a regular 
and fair display of force to force in open field. 
Both armies, particularly the Militia, covered them- 
selves with glory. I particularize the Militia, because 
this was the first fair and open field of the war, to 
which, of course, they were not so accustomed as the 
regulars. 

The next action was an assault, on the 15th August, 
1814, by General Drummond, of Fort Erie, — a strong 
redoubt or square, with stone barracks, capable of resist- 
ing a heavy fire ; an outwork had been also erected on 
Snake Hill (a mound of sand which commanded the 
approach and landing to the westward), and this was 
connected with Fort Erie by a chain of entrenchments. 
General Drurnmond's army consisted of 3,150 men ; * 
— the American garrison of 3,000, with three armed 
schooners. 

Fort Erie is situated near the rocky edge of the 
Lake Erie, and was therefore assailable only on the 
land fronts, — which to the left were so strong by the 

♦ 1st or Royal Scots, 8th, 41st, 89th, 100th, 103rd, and 104th 
Regiments ; De Watteville's, Glengarry Light Infantry ; Incorporated 
Militia, and a detachment of 19th Light Dragoons. 



90 CANADA. 

outwork of Snake Hill, as to render that side com- 
paratively secure. The woods environed the Fort on 
the land fronts very closely. 

Three storming-parties, under Lieutenant-colonels 
Vicker, Scott, and Drummond, were therefore ordered 
to carry the most attackable points of this front ; the 
right, centre, and left of the position, on the night of 
the 15th. Generals Gaines, Ripley, Porter, and 
Miller, defended Fort Erie. The column of attack 
under Vicker, was twice repulsed by General Ripley's 
brigade. The column under Scott was also compelled 
to retreat. 

The right column, under Drummond, advanced 
against the strongest part of the work itself, that 
to the left of the entrance, where there was an 
interior and exterior line of defence. The gallant 
band escaladed the exterior line amidst a tremen- 
dous fire ; but were repulsed. They again stormed 
it, and again had to retire. A third time Drum- 
mond led them on, and he gained the exterior or chief 
bastion, — which he carried at the point of the bayonet. 

The Americans, equally brave, made three successive 
charges from the interior bastion to dislodge him ; and 
such was the confusion, that fighting actually took 
place in the interior of the fortress, and in the 
very barrack-rooms. The battle now raged, and the 
whole force of the garrison was turned against the 
right division; who would have triumphed, had not 
at the moment of victory, — whether by design or 
accident, has not yet appeared, — a wooden expense 
magazine exploded, and tearing open the works hurled 
the greatest portion of the storming-party into the 



CANADA. 91 

ditch. Just at this crisis, the brave Drummond fell 
pierced with balls. 

The right division, or rather what remained of it, 
were severely handled by an enfilading battery as they 
retired ; and thus ended the assault of Fort Erie, with 
a loss of 900 men killed, wounded, and prisoners, whilst 
the Americans covered bv their entrenchments suffered 
much less. 

I have carefully looked over the scene of action at 
leisure, and am not at all surprised at the result ; the 
devastation committed by the explosion is ten times 
greater than has been represented, and the strength 
of the American line of field-works was admirable. 

Colonel Drummond I had known almost from in- 
fancy, and a greater loss than his did not occur during 
the whole war — he was popular with all parties; and the 
Americans respected him so much for his gallantly, 
and the attention he showed those who fell into his 
power, that on one occasion, when the new clothing 
of his regiment, with a silver bugle he had ordered 
for his band, fell, by the capture of a store-ship, into 
their power, they sent him his bugle with a compli- 
mentary letter, although a Militia corps clothed itself 
in the regimentals. 

I sought for information amongst the residents of 
Waterloo and Fort Erie, — who are however not very 
numerous, and amongst them were but few living who 
recollected the assault, — respecting the place of deposit 
of his remains. This is not now distinguishable from 
those of the other officers on both sides who fell ; for 
a line of graves, about a quarter of a mile on the 
Waterloo side of Fort Erie, alone points out the slain, — 



92 CANADA. 

and these are fast disappearing. In fact, when I was 
there last, in 1845, nothing could be more melancholy 
than the aspect of Fort Erie, although it is very 
beautifully situated so as to command the first view of 
the great expanse of the Lake, of the opposite but 
distant shores of New York and Pennsylvania, the 
great city of Buffalo, and the mouth of the Clinton, 
or as it is very badly named, the Erie Canal, with a 
back-ground of rich and almost unbroken forest. 

The lake incessantly washes the low, flat, but very 
rocky shore, on which you may walk over tables of 
those beautiful fossils peculiar to the series of rocks 
exhibited ; the madrapores and corallines do not 
come within a hundred yards or so of the main body 
of the work, which exhibits the united effects of fire and 
explosion in its otherwise solid masonry, and in its 
heavy earthworks, having been blown up by the 
Americans. Desolation, in fact, reigned around ; and 
the forest winds and the boom of the lake wave alone 
disturbed the silence which reigns over the last rest- 
ing-places of Colonel Drummond and his brave 
officers. 

General Drummond, after meeting this repulse, 
commenced the siege in earnest ; and in a month after- 
wards completed his line of circumvallation at a dis- 
tance of five hundred yards only from the Fort, and 
from water to water of the lake, whilst he placed his 
reserve and camp two miles in the rear, out of 
range. 

General Brown, thus hemmed in, made a spirited 
sortie on the 17th of September, and stormed three 
batteries and two block-houses, spiked three cannon, 



CANADA. 93 

and destroyed the magazines, and then withdrew into 
his stronghold; not, however, without having lost 500 
men, and General Ripley being wounded ; whilst the 
British suffered severely, from the nature of the season, 
after a siege of fifty days, carried on in a swamp, 
amidst rain and storm, lake-fever and ague, in a 
Canadian autumn. 

So greatly had the force been weakened by these 
causes, that General Drummond was reluctantly 
forced to raise the siege on the 21st of September, 
1814, and fall back to Chippewa; and General Brown 
then blew up Fort Erie, and returned across the lake 
to winter-quarters. 

A gallant defence of Fort Michilimackinac, by 190 
men, regulars, Militia, and Indians, under Colonel 
M'Douall, in which the iVmerican fleet and a very large 
body of troops were gallantly repulsed, and some 
naval combats on Lake Erie, wherein their superior 
force was victorious, concluded the war in Upper 
Canada. 

In Lower Canada we have chiefly to relate the 
melancholy and ill-conditioned failure upon Pitts- 
burgh, undertaken by Sir George Prevost, who had 
been reinforced by the flower of that British army, 
whose banners were fresh from France, Portugal, and 
Spain, after the surrender of Paris, and the downfall of 
the greatest military despot of modern times. 

Sir George Prevost, at the head of 11,000 picked 
men, invaded the United States by Lake Champ- 
lain, on the 11th September, 1814; and having 
reached Plattsburgh, the great arsenal on the Lower 
Canadian frontier, which was then defended by a 



94 CANADA. 

handful of men (about 1,500), — and what shall we say 
further ? The British flotilla, under the brave Captain 
Downie, was captured, — whilst this fine army looked on, 
without being ordered to sweep General Macomb and 
his garrison into the lake. The American general, it is 
said by competent witnesses, when he found that his 
force w T as wholly inadequate to protect his strongly 
fortified post, in expectation of an assault which 
admitted of nothing on his part but unconditional 
surrender, sat on one of the heavy guns with which his 
position was bristled, and . shed tears of rage and 
regret. His tears were soon turned to smiles, — for 
instead of a storming-party appearing, he heard the 
bugles of his enemy sounding a retreat. " Sic transit 
gloria mundi." 

Thus ended the war in Canada : and it would be 
foreign to our purpose to notice all the circumstances 
in detail which obliged the American government, 
when it found that the capital had been taken, its 
commerce annihilated, disaffection in the Militia of the 
Northern States, — which was proved by a correspond- 
ence with a British general, who had been left to 
occupy a portion of the State of Maine ; and, above all, 
the fact that Great Britain no longer had Europe to 
contend against, and that the mighty Napoleon was 
humbled. 

I shall, however, in the succeeding chapter make 
some remarks upon the features of a war to which the 
Americans so confidently looked as the means of 
spreading Republicanism over the face of the whole of 
the Northern continent of the New World, — a design 
which commenced when England was distracted ; and 



CANADA. 95 

had Napoleon's schemes for the subjugation of Europe 
not been so vast, and had he possessed ilaval 
enterprise and ardour, might have received fruition 
by his aid. 

Had Napoleon been inclined to forego part of his 
gigantic attempts in the Old World, in order to turn 
the scale against England in the New, I do not 
however believe that the Americans would have been 
great gainers. Like King Stork, Buonaparte, in the 
event of serious disaster to the British interior conti- 
nental Colonies, would have instantly grasped at 
American dominion, — would have insisted upon the 
• restoration of the ancient French territories ; and thus 
have rendered wars permanent, instead of temporary, 
in the transatlantic field for his ambition. 

But I do not believe, that beyond a desire to harass 
and annoy his potent and indomitable foe, Napoleon 
ever cared much about either the government or the 
people of the United States. He had gone through 
the terrific ordeal of that Reign of Terror, and that Age 
of Reason which had sprung out of the Republicanism 
of La Fayette and Rochambeau's armies and fleets, 
when the Americans so reflectingly called the enemies 
of their Parent to their aid. 

Napoleon could not wish to support his military 
throne — a throne based upon devoted and unwavering 
obedience to his dictates, — upon such principles as those 
which had guided the followers of Washington, whose 
democracy was of a very different nature from that 
which was reared upon it ; and thus it is very likely 
if he had had the opportunity, he would have hesitated 
to fraternize with ultra-liberty and equality across the 



96 CANADA. 

Atlantic, or that lie would have liked to have tried 
a second experiment in kingly destructiveness. The 
Golden Imperial Eagle would have been, in short, out 
of place in the same mew with his baldheaded and 
less dignified congener. 



CANADA. 97 



CHAPTER IV. 



Military and political reasoning upon the American aggression and 
its consequences in Canada. 



In order not to fatigue the general reader too much, 
I have been as concise as possible in tracing the events 
which occurred in the Canadas from the declaration 
by Mr. Pitt, in 1 791, of their being integral provinces 
of the great British empire, until the final blow which 
American ambition received in 1812, 1813, and 1814, 
in its attempt to dismember these distant states from 
their allegiance, and to sink their importance as pro- 
minent dominions of a power, unequalled from the 
extent and strength of its territories and resources in 
the history of the world, into mere external and inferior 
states of an overgrown Republican Union. 

But the perusal of the foregoing chapters will have 
prepared the politician and the military man for much 
which follows them, and will show the necessity of 
being constantly awake to the importance of the 
Canadas as the right arm of the monarchy. The 
Americans, as long as they continue under the con- 
trol of Republican institutions, — which they certainly 
will during the generations now in existence, — must 

VOL. I. F 



98 CANADA. 

always eagerly look forward to the period when 
Canada shall add another spangle or two to the already 
crowded national blazonry. France, almost repub- 
lican under its Citizen King, never awoke from her 
dream of transatlantic colonization without the strong 
desire that she once more should extend her glory to 
the Canadian and Louisianian forests and lakes. 

Russia, — that gigantic mistress of the Asian and 
European hordes, — has spread the wings of her Eagle 
till he has sailed across the Pacific, and his double 
beak and crown has already been seen and felt on the 
western shores of America. Thus encircled by ravenous 
eagles, waiting only to grasp the spoils of British 
wealth and renown in their talons, it is somewhat 
necessary that her guardian Lion should not for ever 
sink his nose between his paws, and drop the attribute 
of his nature, — vigilance,— into the continued torpor 
of a confident repose in the majesty of his strength 
and the generosity of his nature. 

It will be observed, even by those not accustomed 
to reflect upon military or political operations, that 
Canada is open to attack from the United States by a 
force moving from Lake Champlain on the water 
communications and roads to Montreal in the St. 
Lawrence littoral; by the water communication and 
roads from that part of the state of New York 
bordering on the Kingston frontier as far as from 
Ogdensburgh to Oswego on the one side, and from 
Cornwall to Prescott, Gananoqui, and Presqu'ile on 
the other. Thirdly, by the whole Niagara frontier, 
along which the Erie Canal passes to Buffalo. 
Fourthly, from Detroit, or the narrow strait which 



CANADA. 99 

separates the western frontier of Canada from Ohio 
and Michigan. 

The Americans made the attempt to subjugate 
Canada by advancing from the Detroit into the heart 
of the country surrounded by Lakes Huron, Erie, and 
Ontario (then almost a continuous forest), by a series 
of demonstrations on the thickly settled littoral of 
Ontario to the river Niagara, and by united attacks 
upon Montreal from the Ontario country, and from 
Lake Champlain. They were confident of the support 
of the French Canadians, of the disaffected emigrants 
in the Lower province, and from the whole body of 
settlers in Upper Canada. 

Neither the Erie Canal, leading from New York by 
the Hudson to Oswego, on Lake Ontario, and Buffalo 
on Lake Erie, nor the railroad from Oswego to Albany 
then existed; and the roads generally from the interior 
of the United States to the Canadian frontier were little 
better than the by-paths in England, — they were, 
in fact, impassable after thaws or rains. The roads of 
Canada were, if possible, still worse, and canals or rail- 
ways had not then been thought of there. 

Now all is changed. Both England and America 
have the means of transporting large bodies of troops 
and any quantity of stores to their frontiers in the 
assailable portions, whilst steam-navigation on the 
great lakes has superseded the necessity of building 
three-deckers merely to overcome or outvie each 
other. 

But one great lesson derived from the fruitless 
demonstrations made by Washington and his suc- 
cessors is, that Canada, with an open water frontier of 

f2 



100 CANADA. 

upwards of a thousand miles in extent, was held against 
all the available means brought against it on the part 
of the neighbouring Republic, by a mere handful of 
British troops, and by an agricultural population, who 
turned the reaping-hook and the ploughshare into 
swords and bayonets ; reversing the scriptural indica- 
tion, when their beloved country was threatened by a 
foe uncongenial to their habits, — personal, religious, 
or political. 

No Englishman,— whose education has been carefully 
attended to in that best of schools, at home, and who 
has afterwards been enabled by extensive foreign 
travel to enlarge his ideas, and correct any tendency 
to narrow his views, —can look upon the American 
Republic without deep interest, or can by mere vulgar 
badinage pretend to depreciate its people because some 
of them adhere to the old puritanic and affected nasal 
twang and phraseology. The Americans are essentially 
a new people, — a people having ages before them to 
form a general character in out of the most discordant 
present materials. The old cavaliers of the South are 
as distinct from the new democrats of the North as 
the persevere-in-faith Puritan of the East, who does not 
disdain to manufacture wooden clocks and nutmegs, and 
to sanctify the end by the means, is from the reckless 
half-barbarian pioneer of the Far West, whose ambition 
is to clap his wings and crow like a cock, to swim and 
gorge his food like an alligator, and to fight somewhat 
in the horse fashion, tooth and nail, leg and foot. 

The merchant of New York, absorbed in bill- 
broking and money-making, is not the same man as 
the educated proprietor of a family reaching to beyond 



CANADA. 101 

the settlement and conquest of New Amsterdam ; nor 
is either of these races the same as the agricultural 
people who have overrun the vales of Wyoming, of 
Hudson, or the thousand picturesque champaigns 
between the Empire City and the borders of Lake 
Ontario; whilst the borderers on Lake Ontario are 
again as distinct from the New Yorkers as the Cana- 
dian lumberers are from the French noblesse of the 
ancient regime. 

Every State of the Union, in fact, has a separate 
people, who distinguish each other by elegant appella- 
tions, of which a foreigner cannot at once observe 
either the origin or the drift ; — Buckeyes and Yankees, 
and other equally euphonious cognomens, being very 
rife. The only wonder is, that such discordant mate- 
rials remain so long in the bond of union; for the 
bands that tie the fasces must be weakened by the 
inequality of the materials, and the constant tendency 
to resist the pressure from within. 

But although this is all obvious enough, still we 
cannot be deaf to the voice of reason, or blind to facts 
apparent .as the daylight ; and we must not allow 
national pride nor prejudice to suffer us to imagine 
that the Republicans of America have not within them- 
selves the elements of an empire which bids fair to 
rival those of the Old World, when it shall be settled 
within limits a little more conformable to those in 
which the evidence of sacred and profane history has 
shown to us that all lasting empires must ever be con- 
tained. I shall endeavour to show the Canadian and 
the British public in this work, from the long reflections 
of twenty-one years' residence in or connection with 



1 02 CANADA. 

Canada, and the personal observations of a prominent 
command of the Militia during the troubles of 1837, 
1838, and 1839, that it is as much the interest, the real 
interest, of the United States, as it is that of Great 
Britain, — of which Canada by Sir Robert Peers declara- 
tion is now "an integral part" — that an empire balancing 
the power of the republic against that of the limited 
monarchical institutions of Great Britain, should for 
ever be firmly seated in North America ; and that it 
will be, I feel as firmly persuaded as I do that the 
dreams of American statesmen are as shadowy and 
unreal respecting the future, and baseless as the fabric 
of Shakspere's vision. 

Great Britain has only to fix her Transatlantic domi- 
nion as firmly in the affections of her people, as she 
has already rendered it invulnerable by the mere force 
of her arms.* To combine both the force of opinion 
and affection, with the physical means at her disposal, 
she must not however neglect to put in practice those 
precautionary measures which were said to have been 
recommended in 1 826 by the master-mind of the Duke 
of Wellington. 

We have seen that in every invasion of Canada, the 
grand attempt at subjugation is always centered at 
Montreal for the Eastern division, whilst it is sub- 
divided in the Western into several frontier points, the 
chief being Amherstburgh and Niagara. 

Mackenzie, when he endeavoured to act the part of 
a general, recommended invariably similar demonstra- 

* Lord Stanley declared in his place in Parliament as Minister for 
the Colonies, that this is the true secret of State by which to retain 
Canada. 



CANADA. 103 

tions for the invasion of both Canadas; and the American 
officers employed by the ". Patriots/' as they styled 
themselves, followed the plans of the American govern- 
ment in the war of 1812. Accordingly, the Patriot 
levies were made very nearly in the same sections of 
the United States as those in which all the generals, 
from Hull down to Harrison, concentrated their armies 
of invasion. Amherstburgh, the Niagara frontier, King- 
ston, and Montreal, were all threatened simultaneously, 
and no means spared to render the sympathizers' 
schemes effectual. 

From having been sent out in 1826, as an officer of 
engineers, to assist in some of the details of a grand 
and most efficient scheme for the protection of the 
Canadas, I paid great attention to the subject; and 
having been employed in 1837, 1838, and 1839, as Com- 
manding-officer of Engineers in Upper Canada, as well 
as in command of the Militia of the Midland districts, 
I enjoyed opportunities of consideration upon the 
defence of the Western frontier which may be deemed 
useful, particularly as the results of experience; and 
I feel firmly persuaded that if the views of his Grace 
the Duke of Wellington had been adopted in 1826, the 
disturbances of 1837 would never have taken place, 
the Boundary question would have been of less difficult 
settlement, and that, always prepared for war in Canada, 
peace would have been placed on a basis of much 
greater security than it even now rests upon. The 
fortification of Montreal Mountain, connected with the 
important fortress of Quebec, would have paralyzed the 
Lower Canadian agitators, whose principal dependence 
was upon the misguided habitans of the seignories 



104 CANADA, 

adjacent to Montreal, and the neighbouring banks of 
the Richelieu. 

A very partial and unfinished part in the system 
of construction of the proposed defences of Kingston 
(that key of the Lakes) actually saved the only depot 
of warlike stores and munitions in Upper Canada, and 
afforded a rallying-point and stronghold for the loyal 
Militia, which obliged the redoubtable Van Rensellaer, 
his mail-robbing coadjutor Bill Johnson, the hireling 
Von Schultz,* and all the other liberating generals, to 
avoid Kingston as they would an evident mine of 
gunpowder. 

Had there been a fortress at the Short Hills, or any 
central part of the Niagara district, and the tower of 
Niagara in good order, with a small work at Amherst- 
burgh, and a barrack in the centre of the London and 
Western district, as there is now, Navy Island, Point 
Pele, Sandwich, and Bois Blanc, would never have 
been dreamt of by Sutherland, Mackenzie, Brophy, or 
any other Corypheus of lawless mobs. 

In short, to prevent American sympathy from taking 
root to the prejudice of Western Canada, it was found 
requisite by Lord Seaton to carry out part of the ori- 
ginal plan, and a barrack was erected in the depth 
of the winter of 1838, amidst the stumps of forest- 
trees, in the position which Simcoe in 1791 had pointed 
out as the true site of the metropolis of Upper Canada, 
and the place where an effectual control would be held 
over the settlers who had crossed the frontier, with 

* Von Schultz was the most skilful and brave of their leaders, 
but he was a Pole, — and a Pole should have been the last to have 
taken the pay of the enemies of England. 



CANADA. 105 

all their republican prejudices and feelings, to take 
possession of the most fertile inland portion of the 
province. 

The tower and small work at Niagara was also put 
in order, the line of the Chippewa was well guarded 
by detachments stationed at the Falls of Niagara and 
Queenston, and in the West, Fort Maiden or Amherst- 
burgh was repaired, whilst beyond Kingston, on the 
weakest part of the frontier adjacent to Lower Canada, 
a tower was erected on the ruins of Fort Wellington 
or Prescott, which was, unfortunately, owing to the 
severity of the winter, not quite finished when Von 
Schultz made a serious demonstration against it ; but 
finding that, even incomplete as it was, it was so well 
covered that he could have made no impression even 
against the few militiamen that were thrown into it, he 
passed by and shut himself up in a stone windmill 
about a mile and a half or so lower do\yn the river, 
hoping to convert it into a temporary fortress, where 
he could rally the army of invaders, which he con- 
fidently expected the Americans would send across 
the St. Lawrence when once he had obtained a footing 
in Canada. 

The Dockyard at Kingston, as well as all the fortifi- 
cations in Upper Canada, excepting the citadel redoubt 
of Point Henry at Kingston, which was nearly com- 
pleted, had, from the 

" Canker of a calm world and a long peace," 

been suffered to go entirely to decay : in fact, the forti- 
fications erected during the war of 1812 deserved their 
fate ; for as they were originally constructed of earth- 

f3 



106 CANADA. 

work and timber, for the temporary purposes of that 
war, it would have been a wasteful expenditure of the 
public money to have kept patching them up from year 
to year. The error was in not dismantling them alto- 
gether, and substituting from year to year works of 
defence of a permanent nature, which had been recom- 
mended by the first general of the age ; but money was 
scarce, and the concurrent opinions of all the military 
officers of high rank, who had served in or knew the 
Canadas, could not then be listened to by the Ministry, 
on account of the necessary expenditure which these 
works of defence, of which the Rideau Canal and the 
Citadel of Kingston were parts, and which had both 
absorbed so large a portion, would have entailed upon 
the nation. But has the nation been a gainer by that 
temporary fit of economy ? Perhaps I shall be told 
that as an engineer-officer I was an unfit judge of the 
question, and am biassed by my professional habits. 
To this natural demurrer I have only to answer, that 
experience in the country has afforded me plenty of 
time to get rid of professional prejudices, and to argue 
unbiassedly on a broad national question like the 
present. 

Has the nation gained or lost by the permanent 
system of defence for the Canadas not having been 
carried into effect ? In my humble opinion it has lost, 
and that most terribly. The sum of a million sterling- 
did not suffice to cover her expenditure, to support the 
honour and dignity of Great Britain against the sym- 
pathizing Americans of 1837, 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 
and 1842, whilst it has taught the whole frontier of the 
United States, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, a lesson 



CANADA. 107 

which will not hereafter be lost sight of; and that lesson 
is that their Government is powerless internally, and that 
the popular will of any section of the Union, whether 
directed against the unoffending Canadians, the timid 
Mexicans, or the unfortunate red men of Florida and 
the West, is always superior to the power of the pre- 
sident, the senate, the congress, or the regular army 
and its generals. 

Let us look back a little farther, and reflect upon 
some very natural suppositions which suggested them- 
selves when the disturbances broke out simultaneously 
on the exposed frontier line of both provinces. Upper 
Canada having one lieutenant-colonel (who was an 
assistant adjutant-general), one captain of engineers, 
and four artillery-men at Toronto ; one lieutenant- 
colonel of artillery, one adjutant of the same corps, 
and seven or eight gunners, and one major of engineers, 
and a subaltern of that corps at Kingston, composing 
the regular force to protect a country with an open 
frontier of a thousand miles ; whilst in Lower Canada 
the Commander-in-chief had the disposal of only five 
regiments and five companies of artillery, all on the 
peace establishment, and dispersed at various gar- 
risons. 

Suppose, therefore, that instead of the pseudo- 
generals, Van Rensellaer, Sutherland, Dr. Nelson, 
William Lyon M'Kenzie, and Dr. Duncombe, there 
had been regularly-bred military leaders of the United 
States army, and a concerted plan of simultaneous 
operations directed against the weak and ungarrisoned 
passes of the frontier, with a large disposable force, 
instead of a band of sympathising felons and their rebel 



108 CANADA. 

friends, what must have been the consequences ? They 
are self-evident. The country would have been laid 
waste, and for a time disaffection and conquest would 
have joined hands, and it would have cost treasure and 
blood to an extent which can scarcely be conceived, 
before the Flag of the Crosses would have again 
recovered its ancient and wonted supremacy. 



CANADA. 109 



CHAPTER V. 



Condition of Canada from the Peace in 1815 to 1826,. and first very 
marked Revolutionary symptoms towards 1837. 



It is, no doubt, very tiresome for the general reader 
to trace the historical events of any well-known coun- 
try, from its earliest date down to the more interesting 
epoch of our own days ; but as everything must have a 
beginning as well as an end in sublunary affairs, so we 
shall continue a self-imposed task, in order the more 
clearly to introduce matter more germane to modern 
taste. 

Canada, after the war of 1814, became gradually 
quiet ; the sword was fashioned into the reaping-hook, 
and but few soldiers of the regular army were left in 
the Upper province, whilst Government turned its 
undivided attention there to the extension of settle- 
ment and of agricultural resources. 

Lower Canada, from the domination of French and 
feudal laws and customs, offered but a poor field for 
the British emigrant at first; nor was it until after 
some years had elapsed that the capabilities of the soil 
in the Eastern townships, or, in other words, the terri- 



110 CANADA. 

tory bordering upon the United States, became known 
and appreciated.* 

The tide of Canadian emigration for a long time 
after the peace of 1815 flowed constantly; therefore 
towards the Upper province, where the Lieutenant- 
governors Sir Peregrine Maitland, who assumed the 
administration in 1817, and Sir John Colborne (Lord 
Seaton), who succeeded him in 1828, and remained 
until 1836, were entirely occupied in perfecting the 
divisions of the country into townships and directing 
settlements, so as to afford advantageous positions for 
opening out the vast internal field of commerce which 
Upper Canada possesses, in forming projects for roads 
and canals, and in adventing the educational systems 
proposed for the different creeds and classes. 

Their Governments may, therefore, be justly styled 
the most useful of any under which Upper Canada had 
been placed ; and as I resided in that country during 
the whole time in which Sir John Colborne held the 
reins, and for more than a year whilst Sir Peregrine 
Maitland was at the head of affairs, I shall, without 
detailed reference to Lower Canada until the rebellion 
broke out there in 1837, proceed to analyze the cir- 
cumstances which operated to produce a similar occur- 
rence in the Upper province, after the way had been 
paved by Papineau in the Lower, until we arrive at 
the period when Lord Gosford was Governor-general, 
and Sir Francis Head Lieutenant-governor. 

The first discontents in Lower Canada, or indeed 
any of consequence in either province after the peace 

* The most picturesque and promising portion of Lower Canada, 
abounding in fine land, beautiful lakes, noble mountains, and vast 
forests. — Editor. 



CANADA. Ill 

of Ghent, which was signed on the 24th of December, 
1814, appeared soon after Sir Gordon Drummond 
assumed the administration in April, 1815 ; for until 
1816, when Sir John Sherbrooke was appointed 
Governor-general, constant squabbling had occurred in 
the House of Assembly. 

The principal cause of this premonitory symptom of 
future troubles was, that the House viewed the conduct 
and bearing of the Judges as highly inimical to their 
power and pretence, and accordingly they impeached 
the principal dignitaries of the law who presided over 
the Courts of Quebec and Montreal. 

In the year 1818, despatches from the Colonial 
Minister, although meant to promote the interests of 
the Clergy, opened out a wide field for turmoil and 
petulance. Lord Bathurst, — in order probably to avoid 
the recurrence of the disputes about the Civil List, 
which had taken place in the time of Sir James Craig, 
from 1807 to 1811, — instructed the Governor-general to 
inform the House that the offer originally made of 
paying the entire Civil List of Lower Canada out of 
the provincial revenues, would be accepted. 

The Governor, accordingly, foreseeing probably what 
soon followed, instead of demanding a permanent 
settlement of the question, contented himself with 
laying before the Assembly the items of expenditure 
required, and requested a sum to meet the current year. 

The Assembly, eager to obtain power over the 
revenues, immediately granted his request ; but cun- 
ningly reserved, to meet the Governor's scheme, the 
entire appropriation of the fresh taxes which it had 
been necessary to raise to meet the emergency. 



112 CANADA. 

The Duke of Richmond, who was sent out in 1818, 
most likely had separate instructions upon this long- 
argued and troublesome question, for we cannot other- 
wise account for the immediate collision which took 
place. His Grace determined not to give any detail 
of the Civil Service expenditure; and on the first 
occasion which presented itself he sent down a general 
estimate, stating only each head or division of expense, 
with merely the gross amount required for each 
department. 

To this the Legislative Council assented, by dis- 
allowing the amended vote of the Lower House, 
wherein the detailed expenditure, down to the most 
minute item, was alone recognized. 

The Duke of Richmond then took an extreme mea- 
sure. He signified his displeasure to the House of 
Assembly for having refused the supply in the manner 
he required ; and without condescending to enter into 
farther parley, drew upon the Treasurer (a Government 
officer) for the total sum required to meet the expenses 
of the Civil Government. This act fanned the slumber- 
ing flame — and henceforward the House of Assembly 
was a scene of continued conflict with the Government 
and with the upper branch of the Legislature. 

The Duke, unhappily, was cut off suddenly by a 
melancholy fate, before he could develope his intentions ; 
and although the commencement of his administration 
was stormy, yet there never was a Canadian Viceroy 
more beloved. The French, no doubt, hailed the 
prestige of his exalted rank, and his connection with 
the peerage of France, as he was Due d'Aubigney by 
direct descent, in the female line, from the duchess 



CANADA. 113 

of that title, who had been invested with it by Louis 
Quatorze, the Grand Monarque. 

The Earl of Dalhousie, an amiable nobleman and 
a very experienced officer, succeeded his Grace in 1820. 
The same perversity on the part of the Assembly met 
him at the outset of his Vice-royalty. The same col- 
lision again took place respecting the supply for the 
Civil List ; and his Lordship imitated his predecessor, 
by drawing for the sums wanted upon the Treasurer 
or Receiver-general. 

The Colonial-office was now really embarrassed ; and 
Lord Bathurst, whilst he upheld the Governor, at the 
same time ordered that detailed economic estimates 
should be prepared, embracing the moneys to be paid 
out of the Crown revenues for the support of the Civil 
administration, and the other sums required for purely 
Colonial purposes. This met with temporary success ; 
but in 1823, the Treasurer unfortunately became in- 
solvent, and when the Government presented the usual 
Supply Bill, a serious debate occurred, in which a 
determination on the part of the Assembly was strongly 
manifested to deprive the Crown of all control over the 
revenues; and to such an extent was the assumed 
power of the representative branch of the Legislature 
carried, that the Governor-general thought it prudent 
to express himself strongly respecting this new feature 
of the contests. 

His Lordship, in 1825, left his government in the 
hands of an Administrator, who yielded all the dis- 
puted points to the Lower House, and conceded to that 
body the absolute, or de facto right to appropriate 
both Crown and Colonial revenues, notwithstanding 



114 CANADA. 

the Imperial Act of 1774, which gave the disposal 
of the imperial duties on the import trade, and the 
casual and territorial fund on land sales, timber duties, 
licences, &c, to the King. 

This again placed the Governor-general, in 1826, in 
more violent collision than ever with his Parliament. 
The Ministry of the day, however, supported him ; and 
the claims of the Assembly to unite in its own body 
the three States of the realm, were firmly resisted. 
Thus the year 1826 reached its termination in Lower 
Canada ; and we must now turn to the sister province, 
where from the peace of 1815 similar events, but not cha- 
racterized by such evident tendencies, had been going on. 

Responsible government (the leading feature of our 
day in Colonial politics) began now to rear its head, 
and to put forth its feelers in various forms ; and when 
in 1816 the great expenses following the American 
aggression in Canada became the subject of financial 
discussions at home, the Ministry judged that the 
British Colonies in Continental America ought to bear 
some portion of the burthens of the mother country, 
by relieving it of the vast sums annually required to 
support the civil local administrations. To do this 
effectually, however, it does not appear to have been 
sufficiently foreseen that it would ultimately be requi- 
site to abandon on the part of the Crown the legitimate 
control of its acknowledged revenues, and that by so 
doing, the Viceroys and Governors would be so much 
weakened in power, that they, in reality, would almost 
be at the beck of any set of demagogues who might 
have sense and firmness enough to harass them and 
sway the popular will. 



CANADA. 115 

In Upper Canada, where the population was small 
(not exceeding 160,000 at the termination of the war 
in 1815), matters were not likely to assume for some 
time so serious an aspect, particularly as most of the 
settlers were of British descent, as they did in Lower 
Canada, with a population of nearly half a million of 
French extraction, and of a creed comparatively bat 
little known in the sister colony. Accordingly we find, 
that although there was every desire to attempt to 
disturb the constitution, yet the Lieutenant-governors 
were able for a long time to put down factious dis- 
content. 

Sir Peregrine Maitland (a distinguished general 
officer, who had married a sister of the Duke of Rich- 
mond) was appointed Lieutenant-governor on the 13th 
of August, 1818. He found the Colony slowly re- 
covering from the disasters of the war, and he had to 
direct his attention to some growing symptoms of 
trouble, on the part of the American settlers who 
had remained in the province, or had squatted, as 
the familiar term is, without permission on its 
fertile lands. These people generally, for there were 
several honourable exceptions, held the most violent 
republican principles ; and in the capacity of farmers, 
itinerant preachers, travelling pedlars, and, in short, 
under every guise, poured their venom into the ears of 
the unsuspecting yeomen and labourers of British 
parentage. 

To crown all this, just before Sir Peregrine assumed 
the government, Mr. Gourlay, a gentleman who 
appears to have been tolerably well educated, visited 
the province, and disseminated some very ultra opinions. 



116 CANADA. 

He was accused of having been concerned in the cele- 
brated treasonable practices in England, in Spa-fields. 
That he was a loyal subject, and totally unconnected 
with Cobbett and Hunt at that time, has been proved to 
the satisfaction of every reasonable man ; but that he 
was an enthusiast, whose political feelings were at the 
mercy of his private judgment, is equally well sub- 
stantiated, and the mischief he did, afterwards involved 
the province in disasters from which it has not yet 
recovered, is equally capable of proof; although it must 
be admitted that his designs were by no means directed 
against the Royal authority. He set his unsupported 
doctrines and feelings against the whole power of the 
Canadian Government ; and although every reasonable 
man will admit that the Lieutenant-governor was too 
amiable a person to have launched the thunders of his 
authority against a man without means, and whose 
brains were not in the best possible order, yet he 
contrived to array against him all the Government 
officers by his unsparing and somewhat wicked 
personal abuse. 

I recollect perfectly, long after this man had been 
imprisoned and banished the province, and that his 
very name was almost forgotten by those who had 
been prominent in visiting his political sins, that he 
had supporters who had been trained in his school, 
and that in the autumn (or, as it is called in Canada, 
the fall) of 1826, the Government had been pestered 
by a disciple, who forgetting that he was solely 
indebted to the King for his half-pay pension, had 
arrayed a large portion of the House of Assembly in 
opposition to the interests of the Crown. This 



CANADA. 117 

person, now no more, belonged to the same service as 
myself, but not indeed to the same corps, but to one 
very nearly allied to it, and it was not until a brother 
officer had been sent to reason with him upon the 
madness and folly of his proceeding that he was quieted. 
Gourlay commenced by a series of questions, appa- 
rently of a very useful nature, addressed chiefly to 
the yeomanry of the country, which had the ostensible 
appearance of obtaining statistical information. In 
this he succeeded beyond his expectations; and the 
consequence was, that (divested of its political trash) 
he produced three volumes of information respecting 
Upper Canada, which may yet be cited as the text-book 
on all that relates to that country. But they are so 
mixed up with descants upon the Poor-laws of England, 
and smell so strongly of the midnight oil which had 
served Cartwright, Cobbett, and Hunt, that it re- 
quires infinite labour in their perusal to fan the chaff 
from the really valuable grain. His first serious 
attempt to disturb the Colony after he had procured 
his statistical data, was that of forming a convention 
and a delegation to the Home Government. The 
great mistake which Gourlay, as well as all the 
Colonial agitators who have succeeded him, committed, 
consisted in viewing the officials and the moneyed 
aristocracy of the province as if they were part and 
parcel of the Colonial-office at home. 

In all the Britiah Colonies there are two parties 
who are now technically styled Tories and Radicals. 
There is, however, in these designations nothing so 
false, no position in real politics so untenable as the 
close comparison with the Tories and the Radicals of 



118 CANADA. 

England. It is the height of folly to suppose that the 
Colonial minister identifies himself, be he Tory or be 
he Whig, with Colonial officials. The real interest of 
his office consists in directing the engine of power to 
benefit the distant realms over which he presides ; and 
although he may occasionally permit himself to be 
biassed by strong party representations, yet I will 
venture to affirm that there has been no instance, since 
the eventful year 1791, in which a Colonial minister 
has ever had but one real view, — that of benefiting the 
vast countries under his control. 

Human nature, or as the clever author of a well- 
known work styles it, " human natur/' is human 
nature everywhere; and all the farthing calculators 
that ever existed from the time of Tubal Cain will ever 
manufacture an imitation of the gold of Reason from 
the sounding-brass of Folly. 

What has a Colonial minister to gain by subverting 
a well-regulated and time-tried course of policy, which 
upholds the established order of things ? 

Did Oliver Cromwell, when he set his broad vulgar 
foot upon the ensigns of royalty, dream of making a 
trooper of his Ironsides equal to himself? — Did he 
not rather aim at making himself a greater man than 
the unfortunate and amiable being whom he murdered? 
Did the little officer of artillery, when he sent his 
devoted brother to rescue him from the daggers of 
the Constituent Assembly, dream of suffering the 
guillotine to descend upon his own neck, that he might 
die as a remembered victim in the abolition of royalty? 
Did Julius Caesar when he refused the crown which 
was to cover his bald head, think that by so doing 



CANADA. 119 

he would reduce himself to the level of the unwashed 
artizan, who shouted and threw his greasy cap up at 
this trick of state ? Or, to descend in the scale, did the 
leaders of the Cato-street gang (a locality so well 
selected) fancy, that if they succeeded, they were to 
be debased to the kennel ? Or did Mackenzie imagine 
that he would be a less distinguished person than 
President of the Canadian Republic, when he drew 
up his forces behind Toronto ? 

Human nature answers to all and to every case, 
No ! Such were the secret springs of the conduct 
of Gourlay. Well connected in Scotland, his restless 
disposition, unbalanced by a regulated mind, held out 
prospects of advancement in an untried Colony to an 
adventurer whose fortunes at home were in ruin. 

In all young countries politics are in the extreme ; 
and the smaller the society the greater the excitement, 
is an axiom as trite and as capable of demonstration 
as the 47th of Euclid. It requires ages of reason to 
pass either the Pons Asinorum, or that slender, sublime 
and narrow bridge of Mahomet's vision, without losing 
the balance ; which preserved, leads into the straight 
path, — and lost, plunges the traveller into the hell of 
anarchy. 

The chief complaint, however, which disturbed the 
repose of the Upper province was the favouritism shown 
in land granting; and all their grievances having at 
length been examined in 1828, by Lord Goderich, 
quiet would have been restored, if Mackenzie treading 
in the steps of Gourlay, but apparently also entertain- 
ing views of joining the American Union, had not com- 
menced a serious agitation. 



120 CANADA. 



CHAPTER VI. 



State of Upper Canada from 1826 until towards the end of the year 
1837, when the first disturbances occurred. 



I shall devote this chapter more especially to 
the state of Upper Canada from the year 1826, until 
just before the outbreak of the disturbances at the 
close of 1837 ; because having resided in that country 
all that time, I am better able to develope the circum- 
stances which led to that lamentably foolish attempt 
to subvert the British power there. 

Sir John Colborne (now Lord Seaton), on assuming 
the Lieutenant-governorship on the 5th November, 
1828, found that he was likely to have a much more 
unquiet reign than that of his predecessor ; but still 
the cancer of revolt was only secretly gnawing into the 
vitals of the land, and did not evince its insidious 
gathering, with marked and incurable features until 
1834; when Mackenzie, Duncombe, Rolph, and Bid- 
well, scarcely made any secret of their preference to 
the American form of government, and their desire 
to throw off for ever all connection with Great Britain. 

Mackenzie, originally in business in Scotland, owing 
to want of success there emigrated to Upper Canada. 



CANADA. 121 

He began his career as shopman to one of the most 
violent opponents of the British connection in Upper 
Canada, and afterwards set up a press, in which at 
first he appeared to advocate Tory principles, and even 
went so far as to recommend the revival of Mr. Pitt's 
proposed order of Colonial nobility ; but he soon altered 
his views, and expressed sentiments entirely different. 

Mackenzie, not succeeding with his writings, was 
about to emigrate to the States, when some young and 
thoughtless gentlemen, having taken offence at some- 
thing he had written regarding a friend, took the law 
into their own hands, and forcing themselves into his 
office, destroyed the press. Trials of course took place ; 
the youths who committed so unwarrantable an assault 
were found guilty, and Mackenzie, instead of crossing 
the lines, remained at Little York. 

Some years ago an able pamphlet, on the " State 
of the Canadas and the other Transatlantic Colonies of 
Great Britain," was given to the public from the pen 
of a well-qualified writer, who has since made his name 
better known in administering the principles of the 
Constitution in more than one British province.* In 
that production, which was eagerly read, and contained 
sound information, many new features in the relative 
position of England and her Colonies were developed, 
and first induced the Author of this work to think 
upon the subject of Colonial policy. Although the 
writer of this work has many disadvantages to labour 
under in following the path of his able predecessor, 

* Sir James Carmichael- Smyth, Bart., Colonel Royal Engineers 
and Major- General in the Army, C.B., K.M.T., K.S.W., who died 
Governor of Demerara lately. 

VOL. I. G 



122 CANADA, 

and not pretending to comparison with him either in 
style or in mental resources,, he has the advantage of 
a long residence in the country he treats of, in affording 
the statesman and the politician assistance in their 
endeavours to obtain a more intimate knowledge of 
persons and of matters, which have been thus acquired, 
and which indeed forms the Author's principal claim to 
be impartially considered. 



UPPER CANADA IN 1837. 

POPULATION. 

This extensive country contained, according to the 
best sources of information, in 1837, a population of 
500,000 souls. The census of 1835 giving 338,000; 
and as this census was acknowledged to be imperfect, 
and a great increase in the number of emigrants took 
place shortly afterwards, it is probable the amount we 
have stated approximated the nearest to the truth. 

In 1806, the population was only 70,000; and in 
1826, it had not reached to double that number, — so 
that during the next ten years it nearly trebled itself, 
and in 1834 and 1835 the quantity of capital brought 
into the province by the better class of emigrants had 
been immense. 

Since the year 1827, it appears that 145,000 emi- 
grants arrived from the Old World at Quebec ; and in 
one year alone (1 832) there were 40,000 who proceeded 
to Upper Canada, and who brought half a million 
sterling in gold with them. The new settlers of sub- 



CANADA. 123 

stance were chiefly to be found in the Western districts ; 
to which the Government, from the great extent of 
vulnerable frontier there, had directed their steps. 

The wild lands to the rear of Lake Ontario, and the 
fertile district of Newcastle, with the townships of 
Caradoc, Adelaide, Warwick, and Plympton, in Lon- 
don and Oro, Rama, Orillia and Medonte, in the 
Home district, were rapidly settled by the poorer classes, 
who were judiciously intermixed with a large body of 
military and naval retired officers. Attempts were 
made by the inhabitants of the Midland district to 
open the wild lands in the back-part of that division 
of the province to settlers ; and excepting on the 
rocky ridge in the neighbourhood of Frontenac, no 
part of the country is more worthy of attention ; par- 
ticularly in the vast region of wilderness at the back 
of the Bay of Quinte, whose shores are cultivated by 
the earliest settlers in the country, and exhibit an 
appearance of riches and comfort that must convince 
the emigrant that he will hereafter have a ready market 
in the towns and villages springing up there for the 
produce of his labour. 

It is surprising how long the Midland district was 
neglected by the Emigrant Directors, and how long its 
people slumbered in pushing forward its interests; 
a canal of a mile or two in extent, in a most favourable 
locality, would afford a lake coast for the whole front 
of that district, and a safe and uninterrupted passage 
for the steamboats, — on which, in Lake Ontario, as 
elsewhere in the New World, population and commerce 
so mainly depend. 



g 2 



124 CANADA. 

MILITIA FORCE. 

Connected with the population and government of a 
country, the militia force is of paramount importance ; 
and in Upper Canada, where, during the late war, 
undertaken by a powerful neighbour to obtain pos- 
session of the country, it displayed such valour and 
firmness that it saved the province, it more than 
merits notice here. The effective Militia was returned 
in the latest rolls in 1837, as exceeding 36,000 rank 
and file, and consisted of 72 regiments of infantry, 
5 organized companies of artillery, and 18 squadrons 
of cavalry. 

In 1826, this force was officially returned as being 
nearly equal in amount to what it was in 1837, when 
the population was only 160,000; and as it is well 
known that the old militia system was on a very indif- 
ferent footing, it may be fairly premised that the male 
population capable of bearing arms in Upper Canada 
was nearly double that of the official roster of 1 837, 
or that it then amounted to between 60 and 70,000 
men,* for in the other portions of British North Ame- 
rica, one-sixth of the number of inhabitants was 
calculated upon as forming the probable amount of an 
efficient levy, and a sixth was actually enrolled in some 
of the other provinces, and found capable of performing 
the duties of militiamen. 

In Upper Canada this force could not be said to be 
efficient, as it was not armed, drilled, nor disciplined. 
The artillery had no guns, and, with the exception of 

* As was proved in 1838. 



CANADA. 125 

some few rifle companies, the infantry had no muskets. 
Yet they were a fine body of men, and the cavalry were 
all well mounted and equipped ; the artillery, well 
exercised by the regular gunners, and the infantry, 
from their woodland habits, were generally used to 
and dexterous in the management of the firelock and 
rifle.* They are liable to serve by law, from the age 
of sixteen to fifty in peace, — which is extended to sixty 
in war; but the late Lieutenant-governor Sir John 
Colborne dispensed with the appearance at muster of 
the men who were under nineteen years of age and 
over forty, which perhaps will account for the seeming 
discrepancy in the amount of the Militia rosters for the 
years from 1826 to 1837. As the law existed, this 
force was not required to muster more than twice a 
year; and unless in particular cases only once, — on 
the birthday of George III., the 4th of June, which is 
called the training- day, and even then they did little 
more than answer to their names, or pay a small fine 
for absence. Some of the young men, however, 
assembled oftener ; and as there were many oppor- 
tunities, from the numbers of old soldiers in their 
ranks, they performed voluntary drills, at the dis- 
cretion of their Colonels. 

RESOURCES. 

" The fertility of the soil, the mildness of its 
climate, and the luxuriance of its vegetation must 
unquestionably render Upper Canada, and with rapi- 
dity, a province of the greatest importance." 

* When afterwards embodied and drilled by regular officers, in 
1838, there was not a finer Militia in the world. 



126 CANADA. 

Thus wrote the author I have mentioned, in the 
preface to his work, in 1826. 

In ten years the population nearly trebled itself ; and 
in one town alone, Toronto, formerly called, in deri- 
sion, Little York, the inhabitants advanced from 1,000 
or 2,000 to nearly 15,000. Manufactures occupied 
but a slender portion of the exertions of the people of 
Upper Canada. 

By the accounts for 1834, we find that in the whole 
of the townships there were 5,133,335 acres of 
surveyed land, 1,003,520 of which were under cultiva- 
tion, and fed 178,689 horned cattle, and 42,822 agri- 
cultural horses. The number of sheep I have not 
been able to ascertain ; but both mutton and beef 
were supplied at the chief towns Toronto and Kingston 
from the United States ; and it was not until 1836 
that the farmer had thought of his stock coming into 
a home market, on any extensive system. 

Wool was not an article of importance, being chiefly 
used in domestic manufactures of a coarse kind; 
although there were, and are, some cloth-factories in 
existence, which, however, are now competing with the 
home market. 

As may readily be imagined in a new and a very 
fertile country, which requires immense exertions of 
human labour to destroy the superabundance of dense 
forest, the principal articles of commercial value in 
Upper Canada were lumber (under which head may be 
classed timber of all descriptions, but chiefly from the 
pine, oak staves, &c), wheat, flour, the rectified ashes 
of the hard and soft woods, peas, peltries, — under 
which head all known Canadian furs may be classed, — 



CANADA. 127 

salted pork and beef; and it was hoped that tobacco, 
flax, and hemp would soon be added ; and no doubt 
the great mineral wealth of the country, in iron, lead, 
and copper, will prove a valuable source of revenue 
and employment, as these ores are now frequently dis- 
covered in the unsettled regions.* 

The Western district being in a lower latitude than 
the other districts of Upper Canada, and also being in 
the close vicinity of the Great Lakes, has a milder and 
more uniform climate than the other portions, and is 
therefore better adapted for the production of tobacco 
and flax. Wheat seems to thrive well in all parts 
of the province, and, with timber or lumber, flour, and 
potash, forms the present staples. 

There are several trees and shrubs in this country 
from which cotton of a coarse quality might be 
manufactured. 

If the farmers can once be brought to turn their 
attention to the rearing of stock, no doubt that a con- 
siderable source of wealth would accrue from tallow 
and hides, as these articles appear very superior here, 
owing to the goodness and quality of the pasturage ; 
which, however, is not so much improved as it might 
be, with very little trouble, in so fertile a soil. 

In the neighbourhood of Toronto, and the larger 
towns and villages, the farmers were too much en- 
grossed in politics to turn the natural advantages of 
their farms to account ; and as long as a system of 
agitation, which pays the agitators well, can be kept 
up, it is in vain to look for any amelioration in this 
respect, as the farms are internally rich enough to 

* Copper being now extensively mined on Lakes Huron and 
Superior. — Editor. 



128 CANADA. 

support their owners comfortably, and money being 
very scarce and therefore not sought after by them, 
they can devote a great portion of their time to that 
natural bias which all men of British descent have 
towards political argument. 

The amount of population and the natural resources 
of the country having now been summarily explained, 
we shall proceed to examine into the revenue and its 
sources, and then enter into an analysis of the political 
aspect of Upper Canada before the rebellion. 

REVENUE. 

The revenue of Upper Canada was, as might be 
conjectured, trifling, and was divided into 

Provincial . £302,126 including loans, 

Crown . . 33,271 
Clergy . . 7,371 



£342,768 

which is the official amount for 1834, and is con- 
trasted in expenditure as follows : 

Provincial . . 277,562 including payment 

of loans, 

Crown . . 29,000 

Clergy . . 6,846 



£313,408 

leaving a balance in favour of the Province in that 
year of £29,360. 

The provincial revenue was derived from a variety of 
sources, amongst which was very prominent the 
amount paid by Lower Canada as a share of the 
duties levied on goods entering the St. Lawrence, the 
imposts of foreign products coming from the United 



CANADA. 129 

States, and the few and trifling taxes on wild lands, 
taverns and shops, hawkers, pedlars, &c. 

The casual and territorial revenue arose from the 
sale of Crown Lands principally, and the Church 
revenue from that of lands set apart for the support 
of the Protestant clergy. 

There was no direct provincial tax, all the small 
taxes laid on in the districts were expended in the 
several districts ; the Court of Quarter Sessions having 
been the assessor, at certain rates on fixed and move- 
able property in the district, according to a scale 
already decided by law. 

Possessing an annual income, scarcely so large as 
that of a private gentleman in England, and quite 
inadequate without resorting to onerous loans for the 
direction of the public enterprise and energy in the 
construction of roads, bridges, railways, and canals, 
this country, which was not burthened with poor-- 
rates or poll-tax, tithes or parish-cess, was unfairly 
compared with the older and more flourishing States 
from which it is divided by the Great Lakes and the 
St. Lawrence. There taxation yielded the means of 
undertaking all their public works on a large scale, 
combined with the spirited system of loans which 
there constituted the vis vitce of enterprise, and which 
can be more safely resorted to in a densely settled and 
increasing community, possessed of so large a field of 
resources as its own back settlements afforded. 

There were even no road-taxes in Upper Canada. 
Every person on the Assessment Roll was required to 
perform, according to his means thereon exemplified, 
from three to five days' statute labour in the year ; and 

g 3 



130 CANADA. 

so impartially was this law administered, that in the 
cities and towns where military officers were quartered, 
if they hired a private house, they were as duly sum- 
moned to appear, with spade, pickaxe, and shovel, as 
the poorest artizan or labourer inhabiting a cabin 
does. This of course, in like cases, and in cases of 
the infirm, or those who do not choose to labour in 
person, was easily commuted by hiring a labourer for 
about, on the usual average, half a dollar a day. 
Snch a system, however, did not work well, and we 
shall revert to it again. 

The turnpike method had latterly been tried at 
Toronto. Money had been advanced for Macadam- 
ization, by the Provincial Assembly, and repaid by 
tolls taken for the first time in Upper Canada. It 
had answered well ; but the expense of constructing 
these roads, where stone, except in scattered boulders, 
was not to be had, was enormous. 

In Gourlay's work, in three octavo volumes, pub- 
lished in 1822, there is contained a great mass of 
valuable information, but which, like that occasionally 
elicited by the equally violent Mackenzie, was so wrapt 
up in personal altercation and dispute that it required 
much patience and a real desire to be acquainted with 
everything relating to this fine country, to enter into 
the examination of such an Augean task. Men of edu- 
cation and honourable minds generally shrunk from 
it; but as we determined to afford all the information 
which could be obtained, we actually read Gourlay's 
three volumes, Mackenzie's " Account of Canada/' and 
the " Grievance Book/' by the same restless author. 
Gourlay, who was a clever but a flighty man, says, in 



CANADA. 131 

his first volume of the " Statistics of Upper Canada/' 
p. 223, that 

u No country in the world, perhaps, is less burdened 
with taxes. In no other country is the produce of 
labour left to the labourer's own use and benefit, more 
undiminished by public exactions or deductions in 
favour of landlords and other private persons ; and it 
may with great truth and propriety be added, that the 
objects of labour, especially of agricultural labour, the 
most useful of all, are nowhere more abundant, in 
proportion to the quantum of labour expended on 
them. — How then/'' he further observes in a note, (for 
we believe the original passage was not written by 
him,) — "how then comes it that Upper Canada, with 
all these benefits, and whose settlement began ten 
years before that of the country running parallel 
with it, is now ten years behind that country in 
improvement, and its wild land selling in the market 
at a third of the price which similar lands fetch in the 
United States V 3 

The answer is plain, — that, although Upper Canada 
did begin its settlement ten years before the Michigan 
or Ohio territory, — for Mr. Gourlay can scarcely allude 
soberly to that of the State of New York or Penn- 
sylvania, — yet it was very long, from the effects of 
the revolutionary struggle, before it showed the least 
symptom of advance ; and indeed it had not shown any 
decided features of the kind until within the years 
1826 to 1837, in consequence of the neglect it expe- 
rienced during the gigantic efforts made by Britain to 
shake off the trammels in which France and her former 
colonies were so desirous of securing her humiliation. 



132 CANADA. 

The want of the precious metals ; of an established 
system of equitable loans, under which, of course, may 
be included equitable banking; the absolute want of 
a necessity for large public works until very recently; 
the contented firesides of the untaxed farmers; and 
the high price of wages to labourers and artisans, 
with the facility of obtaining land, which threw it into 
the hands of speculators; may be assigned as the rea- 
sons why the sober emigrant from Britain, or from 
Germany, did not trouble his head much about roads 
or canals, railways or grievances. 

What would Gourlay have said in 1837, if he applied 
for wild land here, to find that instead of being only 
one-third of the price set upon it by the Government 
of the United States, it had risen to three times that 
arbitrary value ? 

What would he have said if he had found that in 
that city of which he was only a village inhabitant, 
land was as dear as it was in the best parts of London, 
and that some Government wild common sold there in 
1837, to willing purchasers, at five and six hundred 
pounds an acre ? 

Mackenzie, in 1836, makes it a grievance fit to over- 
throw the stability of Britain, that the Crown-lands in 
Upper Canada fetched from ten to fifteeen and twenty 
shillings an acre; whilst Gourlay, in 1822, predicted the 
ruin of Canada, or its separation from England, because 
they were not worth a third of those sums. 

POLITICAL RELATIONS IN 1837. 

Having briefly touched (as a sort of introductory 
matter to this important division of our labours) on 



CANADA. 133 

the Population, Resources, Commerce, and Revenue of 
the province, in order that a general idea, within the 
smallest possible limits, may be formed by strangers, 
of this country, I shall now enter at once on the wide 
and perplexed field of Canadian politics, showing, as 
well as I am able, what the real state of the country 
was in 1837, the abuses requiring remedy, and the 
actual value of the grievances complained of, — a term 
adopted by Canadian Reformers, which has a very 
uncertain acceptation, neither meaning the dread which 
a schoolboy entertains of correction, nor tyrannic oppo- 
sition to the views of the revolutionists, but something 
between both; a sort of raw-head-and-bloody -bones, 
which was set up in the market-place to frighten poor 
John Bull into a surrender of his dearest rights. 

Upper Canada was, in 1837, convulsed by the con- 
tentions of three distinct parties. The Tories, or 
original office-holders and settlers ; most of whom are 
the descendants of persons who, imbued either with 
actual veneration for the British constitution, or by 
a desire to better, their condition, left the ancient 
Colonies as soon as those Colonies had succeeded in 
separation. 

They were called in this country, " The Old Family 
Party," not from any claims which they possessed to 
hereditary honours, but from the intermarriages and 
enlinking of office which they had effected. From 
holding almost all the best official situations, and from 
their large possessions in land given to them when 
that land was valueless, they constituted the most 
apparently wealthy portion of the community, but 
yet not the moneyed interest, — for such an interest is 



134 CANADA. 

unknown here, as there are no persons possessed of 
capital in the English sense of the word, land not 
being yet sufficiently available to create it, and most 
of the great mercantile transactions were carried on by 
barter. 

The second party might be denominated the Whig, 
or Conservative Whig, and was much more nume- 
rous than the former, embracing most persons of the 
liberal professions ; the British settlers of almost every 
description, and the possessors of property acquired by 
their own means or labour, amongst whom were the 
great mass of the farmers, who were either themselves 
United Empire Loyalists (U. E/s, as they are 
styled here), or are the descendants of those who 
were driven from the States on the declaration of 
Independence, and had their property there confiscated 
on account of their adhesion to the Royal cause. 

The third partizan phalanx was the Radicals, revo- 
lutionary or destructive. This was composed of all 
the American settlers and speculators in land, some of 
the more simple and ignorant of the older class of 
farmers, and the rabble of adventurers who poured in 
every year from the United States or from Britain, to 
evade the laws of their respective countries. It was a 
much more numerous host than the Tories, and nearly 
equalled the Conservative Whigs, whilst many of its 
American members were persons of great shrewdness, 
though there was very little real talent, excepting in a 
few of the leaders, to be found in its ranks. 

The Tory, or Old Family Party, struggled to main- 
tain their own personal sway in the Colony, — which 
until the period that Sir John Colborne assumed the 



CANADA. 135 

reins of government, was supposed, very erroneously, to 
rule without control over every corner of the land. 

The Tories were loud, vehement, and open in their 
declarations, — as was observed in the Editorial articles 
of the Tory papers of Upper Canada, and in which 
the acts of the Government, whenever they were 
checked, were declaimed against ; and the Tory leaders 
personally and lavishly flattering the High Tory party, 
held a strong position from their unquestionable and 
devoted loyalty. 

The Whig Conservatives, w T ith whom was the great 
and powerful body (as far at least as physical force 
was concerned) of the labouring Irish (Catholic and 
Protestant), and of the small farmers, who had of 
late years emigrated from Britain, as w^ell as a great 
portion of the British gentlemen, professional and 
agricultural throughout the province,* struggled to 
uphold the British constitution unimpaired, and the 
connection with the parent state unbroken. 

They said openly, that they desired a thorough 
reform of abuses ; that office should be open to all 
men of talent and honour ; that the family influence 
should cease to operate ; and that the province should 
have Montreal as its seaport. 

The Radicals, Revolutionists, or Destructives, had 
only one ulterior object in view, — and that was the 
accession to power and place of their leaders, by Upper 
Canada becoming one of the integral portions of the 
United States. 



* It is a curious and not uninteresting circumstance/that the loyal 
Whigs numbered in their ranks the great body of people of colour in 
the province, and all the French Canadians. 



136 CANADA, 

This was no false nor prejudiced view of their object 
and aim. I have conversed with several influential men 
in their ranks, and they thought with Mr. Joseph 
Hume, that it was time that " the baneful domination 
of England over her Colonies should cease ; n whereby, 
should such an event occur, that worthy calculator 
would require to exercise more arithmetical acumen 
than ever belonged either to Cocker or to himself, to 
prove that Great Britain would not rapidly sink into 
comparative insignificance; and his descendants would 
then bless their progenitor for the wisdom with which 
he had consummated their ruin. " Ships, colonies and 
commerce," was the gubernatorial creed of a much 
greater man than Joseph Hume ; and what would 
our beloved country be without them ? why a small 
island, torn by internal faction, and unable even to 
keep the Northern wolf from the door. 

Where would be your nursery for your seamen, if 
you part with the Canadas ? — for if you part with 
Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick would soon 
be lost : Newfoundland would follow ; and your West 
India possessions would then struggle to throw off 
their allegiance, — as all small states are of opinion, like 
children on the verge of manhood, that their relative 
importance is immense, and that they are fully capable 
of wielding alone the sceptre of the world; to prove 
which common-place axiom, we have only to look to 
Upper Canada ; where, with a population not much 
above that of a first-rate British city, scattered over an 
immense and almost unbroken forest, without roads, 
and with an annual capital equal only to that of a rich 
English gentleman, some of her inhabitants desired to 



CANADA. 137 

try the experiment of self-goverment, and to defy that 
power which occupies the highest and most palmy 
state in the most interesting era of the history of 
nations. 

Proceeding, as I do, thus systematically to acquaint 
the British reader with the state of things in Upper 
Canada, just prior to the outbreak, I shall, having given 
him an outline of the parties, also proceed to examine 
into the complaints, or grievances as they are styled, 
which caused the partizans of Mr. Hume to wish for 
separation from the mother country, at a period when 
the beaver* had scarcely even thought of cutting down 
the trees which were to form the bulwarks against the 
prowess of the lion. 

COMPLAINTS OR GRIEVANCES. 

These are enumerated in a thick octavo volume, 
written by William Lyon Mackenzie, — who having been 
a small shopkeeper and then agitator and an orator by 
profession, found it at last most conducive to his pecu- 
niary interests to undertake the special management of 
the political consciences of the really worthy farmers in 
the neighbourhood of Toronto, leaving Kingston to 
Barnabas Bidwell, and Vincent.f 

I do not intend to state a word in this expose of the 
affairs of Upper Canada which is not capable of 
demonstration, nor am I biassed by any personal or 
political feelings, and shall therefore, without any 

* The emblem of Canada. 

f The father of Mr. Bidwell, who expatriated himself from the 
United States, where his prospects were bright. Mr. Vincent was the 
Editor of a second or third-rate Radical newspaper. 



138 CANADA. 

other reference to any individual, merely state his 
known circumstances and his political character, if he 
chance to come across my recollection, as being an 
active political leader ; for such persons are public pro- 
perty, and tell tales which sometimes deafens in the 
delivering of their own trumpetings. 

The history of this " Grievance-Book " is interesting, 
inasmuch as it opens up a source whereby to judge of 
its author and his party. For many years before it 
was published, the author was connected with the 
public press, as proprietor and editor of a Colonial 
newspaper, called the Advocate. In this paper, during 
the early part of the administration of Sir Peregrine 
Maitland, when the C£ family " or the High Tory party 
were said by the Radicals to have ruled supreme, 
Mackenzie thought he could not promote his own in- 
terests better than by bepraising Sir Peregrine, who, 
having married Lady Sarah Lennox, was connected 
with some of the first families in Britain. He even went 
so far as to propose, in his columns, that the preroga- 
tive of the King, secured by the capitulation of Canada, 
should be forthwith exerted, and that an order of 
peerage and knighthood for Upper Canada should be 
created. Circumstances had, however, involved him 
with some of the members of the old family domination, 
and constitutional irritability had caused him to attack 
them in his columns. The Whigs took his part, when 
his printing-office was attacked ; the American faction, 
then increasing, lent him redoubled assistance; the 
Law Courts decided in his favour, and he came once 
more before the public in another character. The Ad- 
vocate office was re-opened ; he turned his whole force 



CANADA. 139 

against Sir Peregrine, to please the new subscribers. 
But still it did not pay well, — for in this country such 
was the scarcity of ready money, that fuel, beef, pork, 
flour, and even ashes, were taken in liquidation of 
newspaper debts, and the editors of many journals 
lived really by barter. 

When Sir John Colborne assumed the reins of 
government, and the Family Party experienced a check, 
a new system of politics was pervading the Colony, and 
Reformers were increasing in numbers and in violence. 
Mackenzie was several times elected a member of the 
House of Assembly from that body, for his person- 
alities ; but on one occasion he so far forgot the respect 
due to his own character as a representative of the 
people, and the solemnity of the proceedings which he 
was entrusted by them to assist in, as to pull off his 
coat and vituperate his opponents in his shirt-sleeves. 
Yet he found all this profitable; — it suited the ideas of 
that class of republicans who migrated to Canada, 
because they found that even in their own country a 
better order of things had gained ground. 

Sir John, although he probably differed in some 
views with the Family Party, was too high-minded to 
permit that they should be insulted in his presence; 
and therefore Mackenzie, during the whole period of 
his being a member of the House of Assembly, 
was never asked to the frequent dinner-parties, from 
which no other member was excluded, at Government- 
house. Nor could Sir John act otherwise ; for this 
violent man had on one occasion collected a mob and 
carried a petition to that Government-house, from 
which he had never been excluded when on business 



140 



CANADA. 



of any kind, and fancying he should frighten the man 
who, the Uuited Service Journal so justly said, was 
one of the most splendid soldiers of Europe, gave him 
fifteen minutes to consider whether he would grant 
the prayer of the petition or no. The result might 
have been anticipated. The General who had so 
mainly assisted in defeating the utmost efforts of 
Napoleon, was not likely to have his nerves shaken by 
such a demand. But the passions of the populace 
were excited, — and Mackenzie again came into the Pro- 
vincial Parliament in 1834, on their shoulders ; whilst 
the Government found itself on every question, for the 
first time in the history of the Colony, in a decided 
minority. 

It will be the painful duty of the future historian, 
in tracing the causes of this event, to find that the pro- 
minent feature which characterized the elections for the 
capital especially, in addition to the active partizanship of 
the revolutionary party, was the interference of several 
Government salaried officers at the hustings and in the 
previous canvassing, and which, contrary to all known 
practice and precedent, was so much exerted to dete- 
riorate the Government influence, that it was found 
absolutely necessary, by all the well-affected officials, to 
endeavour to render nugatory such unusual inter- 
ference, when otherwise those very officials, from 
motives of political and personal delicacy, would have 
abstained from tendering their own votes. 

Combined with this unhappy state of things, a 
visible lukewarmness appeared amongst some of those 
influential persons who, owing everything to the British 
Government and the protection of its institutions, 



CANADA. 141 

might have set an example which would possibly have 
led to different results. 

Mackenzie, now firmly seated, ostensibly gave up 
the publication of his political Journal to the manage- 
ment of an individual, whose name and character we 
should blush to record, as in connection with it we 
should be forced to relate the history of a desecrated 
altar, and a reckless disregard for all those feelings of 
our nature, which, innately stamped upon man, enable 
him alone by cherishing, to pass current in society. 

Having now in some measure got rid of the onerous 
task of conducting this Journal, Mackenzie found him- 
self free to occupy his time wholly in politics, and in 
the collection of that mass of matter of which " The 
Grievance-Book" was composed. He now procured, 
at the very close of the Session, and in a thin House, a 
vote to enable the new editor of the newspaper to have 
the sole printing of 2,000 copies of the " Seventh 
Grievance Eeport," and of some Parliamentary state- 
ments connected therewith ; there being neither dis- 
position nor time on the part of the House, so close to 
the period of its prorogation, to read over these volu- 
minous Parliamentary documents, the opportunity was 
seized of creating a thick octavo volume, which he 
made the vehicle of his own peculiar sentiments for 
the public eye. 

The book, however, was so loosely put together, — so 
great a portion of it by clever management was put 
into index and into irrelevant matter, that it did not 
make that violent effervescence in the public mind 
which the timid and unthinking imagined that it 
would. I have seen it lying about actually uncut on 



142 CANADA. 

the mantel-pieces of inns and on the tables of steam- 
boats, and it would have soon reached the ultimate 
destination of such attempts at authorship had it not 
been that the sum of money which must be paid 
for it roused some reflection. 

Thus ends the history of the notorious cc Grievance- 
Book," which, however, we must acknowledge, in the 
exercise of the candour we profess, contains, amidst the 
mass of its garbled and confused statements, mixed as 
they are with private history, uninteresting to the 
public, some statistical and useful information, — ex- 
tracted, it is true, by the paste and scissor mode, but 
yet requiring labour and application. 

Had this work been accomplished by the able and 
real leader of the Radical party, it would, from his 
legal knowledge and other acquirements, have conveyed 
to the Government much that it w T as befitting it to 
know, and which, divested of that atmosphere of mis- 
statement which disfigured its contents, would have 
enabled that government to have arrived at once at 
conclusions equally clear and satisfactory. 

Having given the history of the " Grievance-Book •" I 
shall now, without attempting to unravel the thread 
of the writer's own narrative, take the " Grievance 
Report" itself, which occupies not more than a few 
pages, out of nearly five hundred of the book, as a 
ground-work to examine into the reforms desired by 
the Radical influence in the country, and then state 
some views of the extent to which the prayer of the 
somewhat overbearing petitioners, or rather memorial- 
ists, might have been conceded, and the manner in 
which they have been met. 



CANADA. 143 

The first declaration of the Radical Reformers, in 
their " Report on Grievances/' is a very sweeping one, 
stating that ." The chief source of Colonial discontent 
is the unlimited patronage of the Crown, and the abuse 
of that patronage by the Colonial ministers/'' 

In young and new r countries, even w r ere it practi- 
cable, to surrender the right thus boldly and irre- 
verently claimed from the Sovereign, the result w r ould 
^prove, as we have already remarked, the immediate 
destruction of all social order, and the very semblance 
of regular government would be instantly destroyed. 

How difficult it is to manage a party, claiming 
exclusive loyalty in all Colonies, is well known in 
Downing-street, as well as to those who are even but 
seldom behind the curtain; and w r hat would be the 
difficulty for the Government to encounter if the 
populace, — uneducated populace of this new country, — 
were at once admitted to fill offices for which they are 
virtually incompetent, when they would be con- 
trolled merely by those whose interests w r ere insepa- 
rable from theirs ? Public and private plunder, 
massacre and bloodshed would be the results, and 
this fine province become either subject to martial 
law, or be w r holly abandoned to its fate, as it very 
nearly has been. Can any one in his senses, who 
watches the march of events at home, think that a 
Patriot Queen wishes to oppress distant subjects for 
the sake of nominating half-a-dozen public officers, 
whose persons she has never seen, and of whose merits 
she is only aware by the representations of her 
Representatives ? It is too ridiculous to comment 
upon, — too absurd to fancy, that the Monarch of the 



144 CANADA, 

greatest nation of the world is constantly occupied in 
scanning the relative tones and gamuts in the music 
of the loyalty of her Colonial subjects. 

The patronage desired to be wrested from the 
Crown, embraced the following heads ; viz., the Salaries 
and Donations to the Clergy, Churches, and Schools 
of the English, Scottish, Romish, and Methodist per- 
suasions. The civil officers of the Government, 
including Sheriffs, Collectors of the Excise and 
Customs, Coroners, Justices of the Peace, Commis- 
sioners of the Court of Requests, Judges of the 
District and Surrogate Courts, Registrars of Con- 
veyances, "Wills, &c, Commissioners of Customs, 
Clerks of the Peace, &c, &c, &c. ; the whole judicial 
establishment, the pensions, the Legislative Council, 
the officers of the House of Assembly, the Indian 
department (which is a military one), King's College, 
or University, Upper Canada College, Twelve District 
Boards of Education, the Emigrant Agency and 
Expenditure, the Crown-land and Surveyor-general's 
departments, the Militia and, mirabile dictu, the Army 
and Navy serving in the country, with their expen- 
ditures. The local taxations through the Justices, 
and the District Treasuries, were also stated to be 
controlled by the Crown, as well as the fees paid by 
suitors on all the Law Courts ! The Canada Com- 
pany, the Incorporated Banking, Canalling, Harbour 
and Dock Companies also were said to be at the beck of 
the Government; and lastly, the Post-office department. 
Viewing this apparently tremendous array of might 
wielded by the Colonial minister, for purposes, as it was 
stated, always baneful to the Colony, we should, if a 



CANADA. 145 

stranger in the land, be disposed to say, such things 
require reform indeed. But let us analyze the subject 
a little, and the awful array against the liberties of the 
people fades away, and leaves not u a wrack behind " 
for the most heated imagination to torture, either into 
the figure or into the shadow of despotism. 

The Government did not, neither could it, exercise 
any sway over the pockets of the people, as was art- 
fully stated. The local district taxes were applied for 
the improvement of the several districts, by the people 
themselves, as was too well-known to require further 
confirmation ; and the people of Upper Canada paid no 
State taxes, either direct or indirect. 

But there are some circumstances connected with the 
application of the public money which might require 
amendment, or at all events consideration, and in order 
to state our sentiments on this head, we must explain 
that as the Constitution stood, the Church of Eng- 
land was, as in England and Ireland, the established 
form of religion ; to support which, or rather to sup- 
port a Protestant clergy (as the Act is worded), one- 
seventh part of the lands surveyed throughout Upper 
Canada were set apart, and the revenue thus obtained 
was managed by a Board named the Clergy Corpora- 
tion, which was in some measure connected with the 
office of the Commissioner of Crown Lands. 

The appropriation of the Clergy Reserves to this 
purpose has been a subject of dissension and dis- 
cussion for years, and the discontent it has created 
renders it one of the grievances worthy of particular 
examination. 

I profess myself to be a member of the English 

VOL. I. H 



146 CANADA. 

Church, and from principle as well as inclination, am 
warmly and devotedly attached to it; but I cannot, 
w r ith all my partiality to its institutions, close my eyes 
to the fact, that it is not, even in numbers, the domi- 
nant religion of this province, or that it has not slightly 
suffered by the well-meant exertions of some of its 
most distinguished supporters. 

The Church of Scotland is much more widely spread 
in these wilds than that of England, and the endless 
variety of dissenters from both, are, in fact, the reli- 
gious leaders of the people ; whilst the Roman Church 
numbers amongst its votaries a large and influential 
body of the inhabitants. 

Causes, which it is unnecessary to explain, but which 
must ever occur in young and new countries, from the 
original impossibility to afford a widely-scattered popu- 
lation the means of assembling for public worship, 
together with that independence of mind arising from 
isolation and the perfect freedom here enjoyed, have 
combined to render it impossible to make any system 
of religious belief available in conjunction with the 
system of Government in Upper Canada ; and it there- 
fore became a question whether it would not be prudent 
at once to render all the Canadian churches indepen- 
dent of that Government, by placing them entirely 
under the patronage of the people — by withholding sup- 
plies to any class, and converting the Clergy Reserves 
into a source of national wealth, by laying them open 
for the general purposes of education. 

The respectability of the Church of England, it was 
averred, w r ould not thereby be at all diminished; to 
verify which it was said, that it w T as necessary only 



CANADA. 147 

to travel in the neighbouring States, particularly south- 
ward, and to observe the degree of estimation in which 
it is there held. Any direct interference however with 
the Church of England could not be recommended, 
and therefore the constitutional grant of one-seventh 
of the land for the support of a Protestant clergy, was 
certainly the chief great difficulty in the way of the 
adjustment of this question, but not an insuperable 
one, as that act leaves its decision to the local legisla- 
ture's recommendation ; and I am firmly persuaded 
that some measures must be taken with the question, 
and that too sooner than is generally imagined, for 
the clergy-land lying as it does, diagonally across the 
townships, prevents the opening of the interior farms 
of a block, and also cuts off the absolute continuity of 
a system of roads.* 

The present incumbents of parishes and the present 
missionaries and incumbents might continue to receive 
the support they have originally derived from it ; but 
that it should eventually revert to the Crown and be 
disposed of, for the purposes of religious and moral 
education only, appears to me to be a matter which it 
is better to meet at once, than to have hereafter 
yielded to public opinion expressed more vehemently 
than it has hitherto been. 

It is surprising to a calm observer, and shows the 
force of ancient habit, that the Legislative Council 
did not earnestly and sincerely approach this weighty 

* Might not the vexed question of Clergy Reserves be settled by 
apportioning the lands according to population, leaving the various 
sects to apply their shares either to support their clergy or to educate 
their children? — Editor. 



148 CANADA. 

matter, and duly consider the Act of 31st George IIL, 
c. xxii., clause xli., in which it is clearly made a subject 
for their decision in conjunction with the Lower 
House, and by which, if any feasible recommendation 
w r ere made, there could be no doubt from the very 
tenor and spirit of that Act, it would be favourably 
construed and met by the Imperial Government ; but 
that the moneys arising from any sale or transfer of 
these lands, or any patronage in them, should be 
vested in the Assembly's discretion, would render 
them infinitely more injurious to the country than 
they now are, no unprejudiced person can for a 
moment doubt upon. 

The law should strictly and definitively point out 
the mode in which these funds are to be applied, and 
any alteration of that mode be as carefully guarded 
against as the provisional allotment is itself in the 
Constitutional Act.* 

Having thus dealt with the grievance of the Cana- 
dian paid Church establishment, which fortunately has 
been settled lately, and which has no similarity to the 
legally constituted clerical order of the State at home, 
(as the origin of the church possessions in England is 
a totally different question, coeval with and anterior 
even to the Romish allotments of church land there,) 
we shall now pass to the second division of the Crown 
patronage, or that embracing the civil officers of the 

* I at first thought of expunging this reasoning, as the Clergy 
Reserves have since been settled, but deemed it better not as it shows 
the question on which the decision of the Home Government hinged, 
a great number of the people are not, however, satisfied, and the 
secularizing of the Reserves will 'again be the main question in Par- 
liament. — Editor. 



CANADA. 149 

Government, including the whole judicial establish- 
ment. 

To place these public functionaries entirely under 
the appointment and coatrol of the Assembly, would 
be to erect an unheard-of system of irresponsible 
government, unknown even in the democratic insti- 
tutions of the United States, and is a proposal too 
absurd to be mooted even by any one but a 
destructive politician, as the evils arising from the 
universal corruption that must inevitably follow 
would nullify the power of the law; and that the 
impartial administration of justice would be at an 
end is evident even to the most obtuse observer. 

Let the salaries of the public functionaries be fixed 
by the deliberative opinions of the two Houses,* and 
that would be all that any sincere reformer could 
desire, coupled with a strict revision of those appoint- 
ments on the part of the Government, and the 
severing of pluralities, some of which, as they existed, 
were incompatible with each other; and in a new 
country no man should, unless in cases of necessity, 
from personal qualification, have the duties of more 
than one office to perform, and that an efficient and 
responsible one. 

The great complaint, the fom et origo mali, was 
that the head and members of the old Family Party 
held almost all the lucrative offices, and there cannot 
be a doubt in the mind of an impartial observer that 
this grievance was not without some foundation, as 
the aggregate sum of income divided amongst one 

* As is now the case. 



150 CANADA. 

family alone exceeded the incomes of all the other 
functionaries put together ; and upon the subject of an 
advising Council being presided over by a Chief- 
justice, and composed entirely of legal functionaries 
or office-holders, I feel persuaded that the mere 
possession of legal or official knowledge is anything 
but a desideratum towards constituting a profound 
statesman. 

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. 

Although the precedent of the Lord-chancellor is 
cited as in point towards the Chief-justice being 
Speaker of the Upper House, I confess I did not see 
the analogy. The offices are very different in their 
nature, the Chancellor not being in such close con- 
nection with the people as the Chief-justice of a 
colony, who is every hour called upon to decide 
questions relating to their lives or property ; and that 
being the case, it would seem meet that he should 
abstain either from endeavouring politically to advise 
the executive or from mixing in that estate of the 
colony which has to balance the representatives both 
of the King and of the subject.* 

It will be said that legal advice is constantly 
required by the Executive Council, and there can be 
no doubt that it is, but is there not an Attorney- 
general and a Solicitor-general, whose particular 
offices were created to advise the Government, and 
could they not be called upon to give that advice in 

* Sir Francis Head appears to have viewed this in the same light, 
as the Chief-justice was not an executive councillor when he admi- 
nistered the government. 



CANADA. 151 

the Council, as well as by the Governor, whenever it 
was required, without making more law-officers of the 
Crown members of that Council * than was necessary. 

And I am of opinion that it is unwise to create the 
Executive Councillors wholly from the body of the 
Legislative Council, as the information acquired of 
state matters may not always be made a prudent use 
of. The case of one gentleman is a very strong one 
in point ; that gentleman published in the provincial 
newspapers, as a reason for resigning his place at the 
Executive Council Board, that he was prevented from 
giving unbiassed and conscientious advice there, in 
consequence of his official position. 

If he was controlled either by the Lieutenant- 
governor, or by the then President of the Council, 
he was perfectly right in tendering his resignation. 
I should think in all colonies that a person uncon- 
nected with the administration of justice should be 
always chosen as Speaker of the Upper House, 
whereby also the injurious system of a multiplication 
of offices would in one instance be done away with, 
and the complaint, so universal in the province, that 
in seeking justice one must meet the same judge in 
every appeal, would no longer be heard. 

Neither do I conceive that every public servant in 
an efficient office requiring his undivided attention, 
should be of the Council, and for this reason am 
persuaded that the grievance was not unfounded 
which complained of the Commissioners of Crown- 
lands and the Inspector-general of Public Accounts 

* There were afterwards two lawyers in the Council. 



152 CANADA. 

holding the situations of Executive Councillors, as 
both offices require constant and unremitting attention 
to the wants of the people.* 

With respect to the Roman Catholic Bishop of 
Kegiopolis, the Lord Bishop of Quebec, and the then 
Archdeacon of Toronto, now the Bishop of that diocese 
being also of that Council, it is to be presumed that 
the question is for ever settled, as Dr. Strachan 
resigned, the Bishop of Quebec never attended the 
Council, and the Catholic Bishop merely took his seat 
there when first appointed, and none of these eccle- 
siastics have since been nominated. 

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 

The composition of the Legislative Council could 
scarcely be altered without directly infringing upon the 
constitution; but as most of the original members 
were old men, it is unnecessary to observe that the 
place-holders will most probably in future stand less 
chance of being elected, and that men of talent and 
real importance in the country will support them.f 

The materials of which this Council was first com- 
posed were scanty, owing to the limited population of 
the Colony ; and we accordingly find, in looking over 
the list, that it was chiefly composed of half-pay officers 
of the army, retired commissariat-officers and settlers 
who were originally employed under the Government 
in subordinate situations, or have since obtained 

* The Commissioner of Crown-lands is now a public officer in the 
Executive Council, and the Civil Secretaries, Attorney and Solicitor- 
general ; the President is an advising officer of the Governor. 

f Which was done by Lord Sydenham and Sir Charles Bagot 
afterwards, 



CANADA. 153 

employment. That it should be the reward of official 
and public merit to be made a member for life of the 
Upper House there can be but very little doubt, but 
that a very small proportion of its members should be 
official persons in the actual performance of duties 
connected with the Executive Government, there can 
be still less demur about ; and that all should be 
educated persons the " Penny Magazine ;; evinces. 

THE PENSION-LIST. 

This grievance was one of the many fabricated to 
swell the list. Its amount was trivial, compared to what 
might have been expected from the efficient and 
patriotic exertions of the inhabitants, and their suffer- 
ings during the late war. In Mackenzie's list, in his 
u Grievance-Book/' p. 123, of thirteen persons who held, 
as he there states, enormous pensions for years, four 
were long dead, and had ceased to burthen the 
country; and the whole number of persons actually 
in the receipt of pension when the " Grievance-Book " 
was so hastily put together, was five ; and the amount 
of their pensions, chiefly for Militia services, was only 
£929, — which, as they were all very old, must soon, as 
he well knew, have dropped in toto ; and accordingly, 
in 1837, the Pension-List was only £120. Colonel 
Talbot's annuity of <£444 is there placed as a pension, 
which it was not, but a salary for the management of 
an experiment in settling poor emigrants, and has 
ceased. The Colonel is the largest landed proprietor 
in the country,* and has spent an arduous and long 
life in the service of it. 

* Except Mr. Stayner, the late Deputy Postmaster- general. — 
Editor. 

H 3 



154 CANADA. 

SELECTION OF THE OFFICERS OF THE LOWER HOUSE. 

This was a very trifling grievance, — being confined, 
we believe, to the Clerk and Serjeant-at-arms, who 
might, as far as the latter was concerned, have been 
within the sessional patronage of the Speaker ; but to 
insure an accurate knowledge of business and a faithful 
discharge of the important duties entrusted to the 
Clerk, it appears better that his appointment should 
remain as it is, without rendering it liable to change 
with every change of politics in the Speakers. 

INDIAN DEPARTMENT. 

This is a military establishment, and as such, could 
not be surrendered to the Representatives of the 
people, without manifest injury and a chance that the 
same system of annihilation which is practising against 
the Aborigines, in the States, would be speedily put in 
force against the unfortunate wanderers here, who are 
now beginning to experience the paternal care of the 
Queen, and whose political relations are becoming 
important from the numerical strength of the tribes 
thrust forth from the neighbouring country, and 
seeking the protection of our flag. 

Sir John Colborne, by a wise foresight, recom- 
mended the establishment of all the wandering 
tributary Indians on the Manitoulin, — an immense 
island near the northern shore of Huron ; which mea- 
sure hereafter will assuredly induce the tide of emi- 
gration to flow westward along those shores to Lake 
Superior, whenever the more Eastern districts of 
Canada are populated. 



CANADA. 155 

The Indians bless Sir John's name ; and well they 
may, for he devoted a great deal of time and thought 
to better the condition of these hitherto ill-treated 
denizens of the forest, — these true and unquestionable 
children of the land, les vrais enfans du sol. 

king's college.* 

The patronage of the Government over this Institu- 
tion is another instance of the adroitness with which the 
framer of the " Grievance-Book" could cast his glamour 
over the eyes of the people of his " gentle public." 
Nothing whatever had been expended upon it out of the 
revenue derivable from the lands set apart to endow 
it, — amounting to 225,000 acres, and, in 1837, worth 
about £200,000, — excepting the salaries of a Registrar, 
Burser, Clerk, and Office-keeper, altogether amounting 
to £436 yearly, for the management of that endow- 
ment. We believe also, that a small sum was 
expended in enclosing the site of the proposed Uni- 
versity and in keeping it in order ; but to talk of this 
as a shameful abuse of the public money was absurd, 

UPPER CANADA COLLEGE, 

This preparatory school to the University is acknow- 
ledged by all sensible persons to be a real benefit 
conferred on the Colony, instead of a nuisance, as 
stated by Mackenzie,— who should have been aware, 
by his own case, that the advantages of regular educa- 
tion were unknown in Upper Canada until it was 
instituted, and that persons who have narrowly 
observed the rising generation, see already a manifest 

* Now the University of Toronto. — Editor. 



156 CANADA. 

improvement in conduct and acquirement. The rude 
and filthy drunken youth no longer annoys the citizens 
by his nightly revels, and cannot now shelter himself 
from the potent chastisement of public opinion, either 
upon the plea of the want of education or of his family 
interest. 

That Upper Canada College is upheld at a great and 
needless expense to the public is untrue. The salaries 
of the masters — for they do not even aspire to the 
title of professors,— is barely adequate to their wants 
in so dear and extravagant a place as Toronto ; and I 
know of instances where men of undoubted character 
and ability refused to be connected with it, on account 
of the deficiency of remuneration. 

In the colleges of the United States the professors 
are well and liberally remunerated, according to the 
circumstances of the locality ; and the Radical Re- 
formers of a city like Toronto, which in 1837 was not 
so populous as many of the villages there, might be 
astonished when they found professors receiving a 
thousand and even fifteen hundred pounds annually, 
with free dwellings, as the reward of their exertions in 
educating the youth of the Republic ; whilst here, in 
this terribly expensive monarchical institution ! the 
humble master of the only public place of instruction 
was required to be content with the pay of a subaltern 
in the line. 

But a liberal education for the male inhabitants was 
not the real desire of Mackenzie and his adherents, 
who wished that the young men should be forced to 
obtain the education which they require in the neigh- 
bouring States, where they imagined due and salutary 
Republican notions would be imbibed, whilst learning 



CANADA. 157 

the alterations of the English language in Noah 
Webster's substitute for Johnson. 

I do not make this observation out of any disrespect 
for the learned institutions of Republican America ; for 
I truly and verily believe that those institutions are 
paving the way there for a very different state of 
things ; and as they are well-conducted, and have 
induced a general taste for science and literature, I can 
scarcely imagine that the rough kibe of the unlettered 
will much longer gall the heel of the well-educated. 

It is not with any desire ever to see the United 
States of America become a congeries of insignificant 
monarchies that these observations are elicited, or that 
that vast country should succumb under the stern 
power of a single military autocrat, but a life spent 
from the period of manhood to that of the most 
vigorous period of man's mental as well as physical 
constitution in these new regions, and a careful study 
of their histories and aspects, enables the author to 
form many judgments which those who have been con- 
fined either to the Old World, or to particular portions 
of the New, can scarcely arrive at. 

" The proper study of mankind is man." Reflection 
and the evidence of all former details of human vicis- 
situde, show the calm observer who has scarcely 
anything to lose beyond the ties which bind his 
attachment to the soil that contains the bones of his 
ancestors, that the United States of America, reared 
in times peculiarly favourable to democracy, have 
been the source whence that struggle for popular 
licence which now shakes the powers and principalities 
of Europe has taken its origin. 

The people of Europe, dreading the might, and 



158 CANADA. 

envying the glory of England, are willing to overthrow 
the ancient and scriptural dominion of kings, that they 
may rival Britain, ignorantly imagining that the free- 
dom of Britons and the freedom of Americans is not 
one and the same thing; and that as the Americans 
are supposed to be naturally inimicable to the race 
whence they sprung, the Continental nations of Europe, 
by assimilating themselves to them and fraternizing 
with them, will eventually be enabled to humble the 
proud islanders to the death. 

Hence the unwillingness of the French to go to war 
with America — hence the struggles which all the kings 
of Europe are now making to prevent their subjects 
from breaking the bonds of authority, and from 
achieving that which the kings themselves, even in 
their mightiest mood, endeavoured to effect, but recoiled 
from with defeat and disaster. 

The revulsion to democracy in Europe would be fatal 
to the liberties of America. The license of the armed 
mob would create in every country subjected to its 
sway in the Old World, such revivals of the demoniac 
atrocities of the French revolution, that the States of 
America would be overrun with the fugitives from 
oppression ; and weakened as her bundle of rods now 
is from the decay of some of the cords which bind it 
together, she would fall an easy prey to anarchy and 
confusion. 

The policy therefore of Britain in upholding the 
constitution of the States, and in forming strict alliance 
with them, is self-evident ; for the questions which now 
agitate that country respecting the slaves, the Indian 
extermination system, and the power of the executive, 
with the rapid creation of a moneyed as well as a landed 



CANADA. 159 

interest, and the great strides, above all, which scientific 
education has made, are not lost on the statesmen of 
our own country, who would naturally prefer the ad- 
vantages derivable from the good understanding which 
exists between men of the same origin and ancestry, 
linked together in a system of well-ordered govern- 
ment, as closely as possible following the time-honoured 
example of a constitution cemented by the blood, and 
matured by the wisdom and experience of their com- 
mon fathers, than to be at the mercy of the vacillating 
policy which a sudden disorganization of the Union 
would effect. The North against the South, the slave 
against his master, the fiery Virginian and Carolinian 
arrayed against his colder but not less energetic brother 
of New York, New England, or Pennsylvania, might 
suit the policy of a war cabinet at home, but England 
is now .so thoroughly imbued with the advantages 
derivable from a constant and lasting interchange of 
brotherly affection and good-will with her hitherto 
estranged family across the Atlantic, that we venture 
to predict she will uphold the Union with the undis- 
puted majesty of her power to do so, and will never 
encourage those reckless adventurers who might at- 
tempt to convulse that country 5 nor, on the other hand, 
will any future executive government of the United 
States either openly assist or openly favour the attempts 
to sever the Colonies of Britain in North America from 
their connection with the mother country, and over- 
turn the monarchical form of government under which 
they are governed. 

The Banner of the Eagle floats proudly and amicably 
with that of the Lion, and it is as much the interest 
of the thunder-grasping Bird to preserve the Crown 



1 60 CANADA. 

which blazes on the forehead of the King of the Forest 
intact in its glory and in its magnificence, as it is that 
of the Lion to rouse himself in the majesty of his 
strength at any indignity offered to the barred shield 
which decorates the breast of the Eagle of America. 

DISTRICT BOARDS OF EDUCATION. 

The subject of education is an all-important one to 
Upper Canada, but nothing could be effectually done 
towards systematically arranging it, until the Clergy 
Reserve question was settled. We shall pass over for 
the present, therefore, this subject for grievance by only 
stating that the Board of Education has been sup- 
pressed, and that King's College University has been 
commenced upon, but that no very energetic attempts 
at a real system of education are yet brought forward.* 

THE DIRECTION OF THE PUBLIC MONEYS IN AID 
OF EMIGRATION. 

This appeared to be a vast grievance according to 
Mackenzie, but calmer reasoners looked upon it in an 
opposite point of view, and thought that very little has 
been done by the mother country towards securing a 
valuable accession of settlers in the Colony. The 
French party in Lower Canada turned the British tide 
of emigration from the provinces by putting a poll-tax 
on each emigrant on his arrival ; and the Radical Re- 
formers of Upper Canada assisted the views of this 
party in trying also to exclude the British emigrant 
by throwing every possible obstacle in his way. 

Mackenzie roundly asserted that the more wealthy 

* In 1847, though in 1851 great vitality in this respect is evinced. 
— Editor. 



CANADA. 161 

> 

portion of British emigrants go to the United States, 
and pass through Canada, and allege that they like the 
management there better. 

The accession of a respectable and wealthier class 
of emigrants of late years, rendered it necessary 
for the leaders of the Radical party to be more 
active than ever, as they well knew that these settlers 
left Britain, not in anger with the monarchy, but to 
place their small capitals out to better advantage, and 
because some of them did not like the signs of the 
times there. 

In the evidence which Mackenzie selected for the 
Grievance Committee, he brought forward two pre- 
judiced persons only to prove his position; one an 
unlettered farmer, and the other a disappointed seeker 
for place; and both well-known as violent Republicans. 

The expenditure of moneys on emigrants is so closely 
connected with the system of the granting of land, that 
we cannot do better than introduce that subject here, 
particularly as it was conscientiously believed to be 
the real grievance under which the Colony laboured, 
and before which Mackenzie's farrago sinks into insig- 
nificance. 

By a most extraordinary perversion of intellect, the 
Agitator introduced the disputes between the Orange 
and Catholic Irish, as one of the evils of the Land- 
granting system, and made it a very prominent one in 
his Land-granting grievance. 

LAND-GRANTING. 

It would be a mere waste of my own as well as of 
the reader's time to enter into a detailed account of 
all the circumstances connected with the olden system 



162 CANADA. 

of Land-granting in Canada, as it is well known that 
nothing could have worked more inefficiently than 
that system, and the mode in which it was formerly 
conducted tended greatly to increase the evil. 

The up-set price of the waste lands of the Crown 
w^as in 1837, on an average, at 12s. 6d. an acre; whilst 
in the United States the government land is at 
about 5s.* 

The income of the Crown-land Commissioner was 
greater than that of any other public officer of inferior 
rank to the Lieutenant-governor, or the Chief -justice, 
and the whole of the accounts of the sale of lands passed 
through his office half-yearly to the Inspector-general 
of public accounts, the same officer settling yearly for 
the sales of Crown Timber ; and the control of immense 
sums rested with his department in the Emigrant 
branch of his duties, it appearing in the Grievance 
Report that £31,728 18s. lid. was expended by 
him in the years 1831, 1832, 1833, and 1834,— or 
nearly .£8,000 a year. 

It also appears that his Accountant had as great a 
balance as £8,802 9s. 8d. in his hands in December 
1834, of the Clergy Reserve Fund, — or nearly £1,500 
more than the Blue-book returned as the Clergy 
Revenue for that year ; whilst the Crown Revenue 
principally collected by him from the lands and forests, 
amounted in the same year to £33,271. 

Under all these circumstances, it was infinitely 
better for the country that the office of Commis- 
sioner of Crown-lands should have been done away 

* In the fine, though unappreciated, Province of New Brunswick, 
the Government price is only 25. 6d. sterling : — in Nova Scotia, Is. — 
Editor. 



j 



CANADA. 163 

with altogether, and some better mode of conducting 
the Land-granting department be adopted.* 

The Surveyor-general's office, in my opinion, should 
have the sole and efficient direction of all public lands ; 
excepting the military reserves, set apart for Ordnance 
purposes, which should never be more extensive than 
those purposes clearly and actually require. 

All applications for Crown-lands of every description 
ought to be made to this office, which should not be 
permitted to take any fees whatever; although as 
an immense mass of duty would thus be imposed in 
addition to that which it now performs, the officers 
might be more adequately paid. 

If the Lithographic Diagrams of the Lots and Town- 
ships were issued to the public at a reasonable rate, 
there would arise from them for many years to come 
an annual saving in this office of at least .£500; 
which might be applied in establishing Land-grant- 
ing Agents in the chief town of every district, — who 
should, even although it might somewhat increase the 
expense of the department, have liberal salaries, but 
not be allowed to undertake private land-agency, or to 
retain public money beyond one month in their hands, 
paying the proceeds of their sales to the District Trea- 
surer monthly ; who should also remit the same imme- 
diately after the expiration of each quarter to the 
Receiver-general. 

If these Agents at each chief town of the several 
districts were constantly furnished with Lithographic 
Diagrams, and with powers to locate emigrants, the 

* A very important alteration was made by Sir Francis Head, and 
since by Lord Sydenham, I have therefore omitted the original 
suggestions. 



164 CANADA. 

vexations experienced would immediately vanish, and 
the country would flourish rapidly. 

The Director-general * should be a scientific man ; 
such an one as, — say a military man, of known ability 
as a mathematician and astronomer, and one entirely 
unconnected with the country, would be the fittest 
person for this office. 

He should not be confined to the office at Toronto, 
or at Kingston, or at Quebec, or at Montreal, — 
where the duties were not much more responsible 
than those of a mere clerk, and might be performed 
by any well-educated gentleman. He should annually 
visit every District Agent, and as much of the new 
locations as possible (particularly of the emigrants), 
and endeavour to check that trade in the lands owned 
by the needy, which has been carried on to a most 
unknown extent by speculators of all kinds, from the 
Councillor to the member of the Lower House, and 
the adventurer from the States, and which paralyzes 
the country even more than the high price of Crown 
lands, and the hitherto dormant state of the Clergy 
Reserves. To obviate much of this evil, it appears to 
me in future necessary to grant the public lands to 
settlers, in the following manner : 

To British actual settlers, whose circumstances are 
sworn to be such as to render them unable to pur- 
chase a block of 100 acres each, upon the following 
conditions ; — 50 acres, upon paying down Is. per 
acre, and binding themselves to the usual service 
of clearing and erecting a dwelling. The remaining 
50 acres of the block, in five years, at 5s. per acre, 

* Director- General of the Land-granting Establishment for both 
the Canadas. 



CANADA. 165 

with a deed free of expense ; provided that the settler 
has in those five years a log-house, and barn, and five 
acres fenced under cultivation either arable or pasture. 

I have laid down the lots at 100 acres, as it coin- 
cides with the views entertained by the Colonial- office 
in the Regulations of February, 1831, and because 
100 acres affords ample support and employment for 
a poor emigrant's means. 

Emigrants from Great Britain, possessing capital and 
entering into bonds actually to settle, should be per- 
mitted advantages according to their capital, and 
should pay at once the up-set price of five, ten, fifteen, 
or twenty shillings per acre, according to the locality 
they desire, and the known value of the land ; obtain- 
ing their patent as soon as they had opened for cultiva- 
tion such a proportion of acres as might be deemed fit. 

But in all these advantages the lands should be 
carefully guarded against speculators ; and in no 
instance should more than 500 acres be sold to one 
settler in a tQwnship, whatever his means might be : 
for if he has plenty of capital, and wishes to be in 
a well-settled part of the country, he will always find 
a sufficiency of private land for sale. And in order to 
induce those now holding half the province by their 
speculations uncultivated, in hopes hereafter to create 
a landed aristocracy, — if I may use the term, — a some- 
what heavier tax should be put on wild lands, so as to 
avoid injuring the owner of small portions, who cannot 
either obtain a market for them or cultivate them, but 
at the same time to make the land-jobber feel that his 
speculations will not be permitted to keep the country 
a forest for centuries. 

To settlers from the United States, or those coming 



166 CANADA. 

from a foreign country chiefly on speculation, I should 
not feel disposed to hold out the same inducements as 
in those granted to British settlers. 

The territory of the United States is large enough 
for its children for ages yet to come; and as Upper 
Canada is desirous of becoming national, and has been 
peopled hitherto chiefly by men of British principles, 
it seems that however useful and industrious the 
Americans are in any country, that to encourage their 
quitting their own favoured soil would be detrimental 
to all British interest, as Canada is not a large country 
as far as its fertile surface is concerned. But I would 
make no further distinction between British and foreign 
settlers than this. As soon as a British emigrant had 
built his log-house and had cleared one acre of ground, 
he should be permitted, if he had paid for his fifty 
acres, or for his whole purchase as the case might be, 
to hold the elective franchise ; provided he was the head 
of the family, — or in case of individual unmarried 
settlers, provided he had exercised that franchise after 
attaining the age of twenty-one in Britain or in Ire- 
land, which could easily be proved. 

For the foreign settler, the Oath of Allegiance should 
constitute one test — and the actual performance in 
person, and not by deputy, of the legal settlement- 
duties, another; whilst no head of a family, nor in 
short any foreigner, should be permitted to vote at 
elections of any description until after he had been 
seven years in the province, from the date of his deed 
for his land, and from his taking the oath of allegiance, 
which in no alien case should be administered until the 
applicant had attained twenty-one ; and in towns no 
foreigner should be entitled to vote at all, unless he 



CANADA. 167 

had constantly resided there for seven years. Thus 
Canada might become a country ; and there is nothing 
unfair in this proposal, although it would paralyze the 
Radical interest : for it is well known that restrictions 
much more onerous are placed by every nation on aliens, 
and by none more efficiently than by the United States. 

If the system of Land-granting is thus modified and 
altered, the Port of Montreal being now common to 
both the Canadas, an immense influx of British 
settlers would immediately enter and re-enter this 
country; and should it be still found advisable to 
expatriate such paupers as are able to work, and 
willing to try their fortunes in Canada, the low price 
at which land would be obtained for them might easily 
be raised either by private subscription, or from the 
Poor-law funds. Each head of a family would thus 
require only fifty shillings to commence farming with; 
and if he was supplied with suitable tools, and two 
years' rations, would become independent; whilst at 
the end of the term at which he was to be left to his 
own resources, he would be so far advanced in the 
scale of society (and consequently in his own estima- 
tion) as to be entitled to the elective franchise. 

I look, therefore, to the following leading measures 
as calculated to remove all real complaints, and to 
tend more than any other to create and foster British 
feelings and principles in Canada; viz., 

1 st. A complete, and not a mere partial, reorganiza- 
tion of the Land-granting system. 

2nd. The right of voting, upon the payment of the 
stipulated sum upon the first purchase, by British 
emigrants. 

3rd. The immediate establishment of the University 



168 CANADA. 

of Canada, without any religious tests being required 
of the students.* 

4th. The separation of pluralities in all official 
situations, as far as practicable. 

5th. The reward of merit, without relation to party 
or politics, and a due but a guarded admission of the 
French Canadians to office and its emoluments. On 
some of these points I have stated my views sufficiently 
at large, excepting the fifth, which is a difficult ques- 
tion, and requires great deliberation. 

BRITISH EMIGRANTS. 

Since the government of Sir Francis Head this 
subject has occupied much reflection, and it is hoped 
will form a prominent feature in the measure for 
settling the agitation of the country ; for, to use his 
own ideas in that clever work, "Bubbles from the 
Brunnen," it will, if properly settled, with the 
extension of education, completely paralyze and anni- 
hilate the hopes of the Radical Revolutionists in 
Western Canada; for the real " sweet little cherub 
that sits up aloft to keep watch " for the life of the 
country is not only sound and cheap education, but the 
unlimited exercise of the privilege of elective franchise 
by the free-born settlers from the old country, who will 
very soon outnumber the Canadians of French extrac- 
tion, as is proved by the continual increase of emigra- 
tion, — the Agent's returns for 1842 alone giving the 
enormous amount of British emigrants arrived at Que- 
bec, up to October the 31st, at upwards of 45,000. 

* In the University of Toronto no tests are required, though in the 
new Trinity College none but those of the Church of England are 
permitted to study. — Editor. 



CANADA. 169 



CHAPTER VII. 

State of Lower Canada from 1826 to 1837, when the Rebellion 
broke out. 

But the reader must now return with me to Lower 
Canada, where the same desperate scheme of revolu- 
tion was concocting by Papineau, on a larger and more 
dangerous scale. 

The great trial of skill to obtain the appropriation of 
the casual and territorial, in fact, of all the imperial 
and colonial revenues, had been steadily going on ; and 
in 1828, a grievance petition, signed by 80,000 
habitans and their leaders, denouncing Lord Dalhousie, 
and almost demanding the surrender of the revenue, 
was sent home, and subjected to the deliberate exami- 
nation of the House of Commons, by the Secretary for 
the Colonies, Mr. Huskisson. The Committee re- 
ported in favour of the House of Assembly, reserving, 
however, the salaries of the Governor - general, the 
Judges, and the Executive Council, which were to be 
continued, as independent of its control. The griev- 
ances of Lower Canada were also generally considered, 
and recommendations made for an extension, on more 
open principles of the Constitution of the Councils, and 

VOL. I. i 



170 CANADA. 

a more liberal system of granting and selling the public 
lands. This gave great satisfaction, and Mr. Hus- 
kisson was highly applauded. The Judges were 
requested to resign the seats which they had held, and 
some liberal members were added to the Legislative 
Council; and even Papineau, the leader of the 
Reformers, was declared admissible to the Privy or 
Executive Council : the Canadian joy knew no 
bounds; and when the Governor-general left the 
Colony, to be replaced by Lord Aylmer, in 1830, 
Papineau headed an address to Sir James Kempt, 
expressive of the sorrow that was felt at his departure, 
and their confidence and thankfulness for the justice of 
his measures. 

Lord Aylmer, a nobleman of very conciliatory and 
engaging manners, who had distinguished himself 
under Wellington, was at first hailed by the Canadians 
as a viceroy, in whom they were disposed to place 
every trust, and to him was confided the delicate and 
difficult mission, which was to result in placing the 
Assembly in full possession of the ways and means of 
the country. Accordingly, in the latter end of the 
year 1830, the Governor-general prepared the measure 
which was to place the revenues under the control of 
the Colonial Legislature, on condition that the Judges 
and principal officers of the Imperial Government 
should have a permanent and unalterable provision 
first secured for them. The imperial duties on the 
sale of land, on permission to cut timber, on licenses, 
&c, were still reserved, and the small annual sums 
yielded therefrom were to be set apart for the support 
of the clergy of the English Church. It was on this 



CANADA. 171 

tender point that the consciences of the Roman 
Catholic and Presbyterian members of the House were 
most likely to be touched; and notwithstanding the 
fact that the stipends of these Ministers of the gospel 
had hitherto been paid by England out of the Military 
chest, yet their being paid at all was, no doubt, a sore 
point, although the Roman Catholic Bishops received 
a salary of £1,000 a year from the same source. This 
was, therefore, a master grievance ; and nothing could 
be better than the honest, upright, and manly way in 
which Lord Aylmer had acted, by plainly stating the 
intentions of the Government. 

Mr. Neilson, a clever and energetic leader of the 
Reforming Party, but who abandoned it the moment 
it became revolutionary, took a prominent part in 
passing the celebrated address and resolution, which 
went to the extreme length of asserting that nothing 
short of a surrender of the whole of the revenues of 
the Crown would satisfy the House of Assembly, and 
that any attempt to provide for an Established Church 
would be resisted. 

Lord Aylmer now had an opportunity of seeing the 
character of the revolutionary leaders, for early in the 
month of March, 1831, he was presented, as Sir John 
Colborne had been in Upper Canada, with a string of 
grievances which had been cleverly manufactured, and 
which the Governor-general received with the utmost 
coolness, asking if it contained every complaint which 
it was thus sought to have redressed, as nothing could 
be afterwards added or considered. 

Notwithstanding a furious previous vote to stop the 
supplies, the Assembly, somewhat struck with this 

i 2 



172 CANADA. 

rebuff, pocketed the grievances and passed the required 
Bill. 

It would occupy too much space to narrate the con- 
tinuance of the struggle between the Colonial Office 
and the refractory Assembly upon the subject of the 
control over the public officers, from the Governor- 
general to the lowest clerk or messenger, which the 
Radical House aspired to obtain by means of the 
national purse being entirely placed at their mercy. 

Lord Aylmer, whose generous disposition towards 
the country he was sent to govern, would not suffer 
him, for the sake of expressing his dislike of the mea- 
sures of the Agitators, to vilify the whole mass of the 
people, invariably represented his fixed opinion that 
the Canadians were a loyal, an honest, and a respect- 
able race ; and had he ruled in happier times, I have 
no doubt his amiable character would have been duly 
appreciated by them. Without any desire to flatter a 
nobleman, I feel it but justice to say that, to a know- 
ledge of his virtues from my childhood, I must add 
the experience of a man, and feel assured that, had not 
his time been occupied by the proceedings of Papineau, 
he would have brought into operation his intentions 
for the internal improvements of the country, in which 
he travelled and explored more from Labrador to 
Superior than any other viceroy, or in fact than any 
other public functionary or private gentleman in the 
Canadas.* 

* It may be supposed that I have some personal reason for dwell- 
ing upon the character of Lord Aylmer. The first work my father 
wrote, now out of print and not to be procured, was a little book of 
"Philosophical Recreations," and I recollect as a child hearing him 



CANADA. 173 

In 1831 and 1832, the House of Assembly was 
entirely occupied with the struggle we have named, 
and Lord Goderich, having yielded all that was rea- 
sonable, determined that the Governor and public 
officers of the state should not be placed at their beck. 
In 1833, Lord Stanley being at the head of Colonial 
affairs, directed measures for preventing the further 
operations of the attempt to monopolize all power and 
patronage by Papineau and his party. The salaries 
of the public functionaries had been purposely with- 
held, in order to make them feel the weight of the 
displeasure of the house, and through them, effectually 
to embarrass the Government. 

Vigorous measures were necessary, and therefore 
Lord Stanley ordered the Governor to pay a part of 
the salaries, so long due, from the Imperial funds, 
which had as yet remained out of the reach of Papi- 
neau's party, who had then determined to enlarge 
the sphere of their operations, by resolving that the 
country must have a House of Peers (the Legislative 
Council) responsible to, and elected by the people, and 
that the Upper House should therefore be dissolved. 

Papineau here committed a great error ; he knew 
well that the state of EDgland would prevent even tire 

say it was for Lord Aylmer's amusement, and that the frontispiece 
was drawn by his lordship. My father's most popular work, his 
u Astronomy " was also written with the same intention ; and I have 
heard him often say that he was prepossessed with an opinion of the 
abilities of the young noble, and he was therefore not at all surprised 
to find that he had afterwards, under Wellington, become one of the 
most efficient of the Peninsular Staff. 

The voyage of exploration to Labrador, Newfoundland, and Gaspe, 
which Lord Aylmer made in 1831, is detailed in the second volume 
of " Canada in 1841." His voyage to Superior I am unable to give. 



174 CANADA. 

hearing of so preposterous a claim by a colony which 
laboured under feudal laws. But he bore still tighter 
on the tether, and actually proposed a National Con- 
vention to decide the qualifications of the Electors for 
Members of the Senate, and the period of their office. 

The Colonial minister, with his accustomed vigour, 
fired a heavy broadside at this Republican scheme. 
He declared such demands inconsistent with Monar- 
chical Government, refused to advise the King upon 
it at all, and hinted to both Houses, the Upper one 
having ridden the high horse a little, about its pre- 
eminence and privileges, that it was very possible, the 
state of parties in Lower Canada, would oblige the 
Government to reconsider the charter of 1791. 

Lord Aylmer's conduct throughout all this con- 
tinued scene of preparation for a rebellion was tem- 
perate and conciliatory ; but in 1834 the Assembly 
declared open war against him, refused all supplies, 
and designated his Lordship as everything that was 
bad, and solicited his immediate recall ; but instead 
of being victors in the fight, the military chest was 
opened, and the public servants paid. 

After a short interregnum at the Colonial office by 
the present Lord Monteagle, the ministry harassed 
with the endless grievances of Mackenzie and Papineau, 
determined to take some effectual measures to remedy 
so evil a condition of things, and three High Com- 
missioners were appointed with full powers to examine 
into the condition of every department of the state, 
and the condition of the colony in 1835, and the Earl 
of Gosford was nominated to succeed Lord Aylmer. 

The Governor was chief of this Commission, which 



CANADA. 175 

Lord Glenelg had also composed of Sir Charles Grey, 
a relative of Earl Grey, and who had been a judge 
of the Supreme Court of Madras, and Chief-justice 
of Bengal, and of Major Sir George Gipps, a captain 
in the corps of the Royal Engineers, and since Gover- 
nor of New South Wales. 

These Commissioners selected by the Whig ministry, 
were all of, what is termed, liberal politics ; and it 
was therefore supposed, instructed to report favourably 
as to conciliatory matters with the people of Canada ; 
and the " Instructions n for their guidance were 
based upon terms which the most ardent Constitu- 
tional Reformer would have hailed, for the control of 
the Revenue was to be ceded, on certain stipulations as 
to the public officers' salaries being first secured. 

The question of an Elective Legislative Council 
was unfortunately not entirely set at rest. That of 
annulling a contract, which the Government had 
entered into with a highly respectable mercantile body 
or association, " The British American Land Com- 
pany," for the settlement of the ungranted lands of 
the Eastern townships, and other unlocated portions of 
Lower Canada, was declared to be out of the ques- 
tion, nor would Lord Glenelg assent to part with the 
control of the Crown over the territories which were 
reserved as Crown lands. The ministry were willing 
that the right of making future grants of pensions for 
Colonial services should be ceded to the House. 

In short, excepting on these few points, the Home 
Government met all the most exigent views of the 
Assembly, and Lord Gosford opened his Parliament 
on October 1835, with a speech, which displayed the 



176 CANADA. 

tone and temper of the Ministry of the day, as being 
most favourable to the advancement of Canadian 
prosperity, and as leaning with a friendly bias towards 
the French Canadians, and promising redress for 
almost all the ninety-two grievances. 

These grievances, however, like the tales of the 
Sultana, only increased in number the longer the 
Sultan listened, and they now claimed as rights what 
they had before asked as favours. Conciliation was 
carried to its utmost limits, and violent, and unusual 
invective on the part of the British residents was 
contrasted by a most winning personal kindness on 
the part of the Governor towards the opposite faction, 
who mistook his bearing for his instructions, and 
were determined to try his temper to the uttermost. 

It was now that the inevitable consequences began 
to develop themselves. The small cloud on the 
horizon, at first scarcely visible, had gradually enlarged 
and blackened, until it glow x ed with a lurid redness, 
and gave token that the storm was about to burst. 

The Upper Canadian Reformers had joined heart 
in hand with Papineau, and it is grievous to reflect 
that the United Republicans were backed and supported 
by members of the Imperial Parliament ; one of whom 
had the hardihood to assert that the domination of 
England over her Colonies was a baneful one, in a 
letter written to Mackenzie, and to advise Papineau 
how to act in another. Whilst Lord Gosford was doing 
his utmost to allay the storm, and the Commissioners 
were busily at work at pacification, the Legislative 
Council took fire at an inuendo by his Lordship, that 
if that body offered any opposition to the passing of 



CANADA. 177 

a Supply Bill for the three years of arrears of Public 
Salaries, and half a year's advance, the Governor would 
pass that body over by accepting the terms himself. 
Such a course was contrary to his instructions, and 
held out the brilliant hope that ultimately the Radical 
Assembly would succeed in annihilating the Patricians. 

The publication of chief part of the instructions in 
Upper Canada, by Sir Francis Head, soon opened the 
eyes of Papineau and his party, and they at once saw 
that the influence of the Legislative Council was only 
to be submerged for a moment, to answer a pressing 
emergency; and that as to swamping it entirely, the 
Home Government had never even contemplated such 
a measure. 

Thus commenced the year 1836, — no Supply Bill, 
no cordiality either between Governor, Council, or 
House ; all the Legislative enactments on which the 
welfare of the country depended in abeyance, — the 
Legislative Council rejecting every Bill sent for their 
concurrence; — the country paralyzed, and the Com- 
missioners at fault. 

It has fallen to the lot of other Colonies to witness 
these undignified and hurtful squabbles between the 
Upper and Lower Houses, and everywhere that it has 
happened the country has suffered.* The Upper 
Houses have too often conceived themselves images 
of the House of Peers ; and to such an extent has this 
idea gained ground, that I have heard that the reasons 

* The little colony of Newfoundland was paralyzed in its infancy 
by it to such an extent that the Minister found it necessary to swamp 
both Council and Assembly by amalgamating them into one dis- 
cordant whole. 

i 3 



178 CANADA. 

assigned by some persons in the Colonies for placing 
the military black cockade in their servants* hats, have 
been that peers of the Realm are entitled to such 
privilege,— a privilege, by the way, not to be found in 
HatselL 

The claim of precedence of some of these Coun- 
cillors, too, is occasionally very embarrassing to the 
Governors, as, in addition to their acknowledged official 
rights in the Colonies, they stand up for the same 
honours for their families ; forgetting that in England, 
life-office, or office of any kind, only confers honours 
upon the holder.* 

The struggles in the Colonies on matters of privilege 
and precedence, lead to many of the real though 
hidden embarrassments in them ; and although there 
is, generally speaking, no great and fixed distinction of 
the educated ranks, yet the House of Assembly looks 
usually upon the Legislative Council as occupying a 
superior position in society without adequate reason, 
and the Councils look down upon the Delegates as a 
sort of tiers etat, which is often very troublesome to 
their dignity. This rancorous feeling of the Patricians 
and Plebeians towards each other was most evident in 
1836, when Sir Francis Head and Lord Gosford were 
actually engaged in the work of pacification ; and as 
the objects of Papineau and Mackenzie were both 
revolutionary and alike, every method was taken to 

* There was a terrible fracas in India about this silly question 
lately, and such is the importance attached to these fancied rights, 
that in .many of the very smallest Colonies a Baronet of the 
United Kingdom would have to walk out of the room at a public 
party after a Councillor, if that Councillor insisted upon his pri- 
vilege. 



CANADA. 179 

bring the Patricians into contempt, which that body 
occasionally assisted by forming too mean an opinion 
of their enemy and his powers, — a mode of thinking 
which has lost many a battle, civil and military. The 
Patricians, in fact, in a Colony, although generally 
speaking like the peers of England, — the bulwark 
against which the waves of Republicanism foam and 
break, are themselves occasionally stormy, and some- 
times very difficult to manage, as they are apt — such 
is the invariable tendency of human nature — to over- 
rate their own true and actual importance, and to 
view themselves as " The Country," and their interest 
as the paramount one which Governors are sent out 
to take care of. I remember a very amusing instance, 
and as history is dry work, shall relate it. 

When Sir John Colborne, the hero of a hundred 
fights, first heard of a successor being appointed to 
him, in the person of Sir Francis Head, much was the 
speculation, and great the canvassing. Sir Francis 
was comparatively, indeed entirely, unknown in Canada. 
His " Rough Notes of a Ride over the Pampas," and 
his "Bubbles from the Brunnens," constituting his 
public reputation ; and they, such was the paucity 
of books in the Upper Province, had not been read by 
even half-a-dozen people at Toronto. 
• A Whig ministry having selected him to replace so 
distinguished a general officer as Lord Seaton, the 
Radicals and all the lower classes attached to the 
Radical cause, became immediately acquainted with his 
political character. Mackenzie's and O'Grady's papers 
were full of his praise; Mackenzie u knew him '' to be 
" a tried and thorough-going Reformer," and accord- 



180 CANADA. 

ingly the walls of Toronto were placarded to the effect 
that he was " one of the people " long and long before 
he entered them. 

I was the only Officer of Engineers on duty at, or 
within a hundred and eighty miles of the Capital, and 
Sir Francis had commenced and completed his military 
career in that corps. Accordingly I was assailed at so 
eventful an epoch with multitudinous inquiries on all 
sides, — " Was he a Radical? — was he a Reformer?" — 
for I believe it was pretty generally surmised that he 
must be either one or the other. For me, alas ! I was 
ignorant on the subject; so as nothing specific as 
to his politics could be made out, — and no wonder ! 
for in his narrative he says that he professed no party 
bias, — I was assailed on another score. The mighty 
ones of the land and the Tories, shrewdly guessed that 
the Whig Ministry had some powerful reasons of their 
own, and that they had let loose a tiger, who would per- 
form his duty without flinching. Amongst other queries 
put, I was gravely asked if it was really true that he 
rode for thousands of miles over the scorching Pampas, 
with a slice of beef for a saddle, and without the usual 
accompaniment of galligaskins. A man who could 
endure such hardships was not likely to be afraid of a 
storm in a wash-hand basin full of frothy politics. 

Again, it was deemed very hard usage to such an 
important Colony to send them King Stork, whose 
highest title to military fame was no more than 
"Captain of Engineers." To the person who men- 
tioned this master-grievance, before which Patricians 
of a quarter of a century were to bow, I merely 
replied, — being myself then only a Captain of Engi- 



CANADA. 181 

neers, — " Captains of Engineers, my dear Sir, are 
sometimes devilish clever fellows." 

Patricians and plebeians, Upper Canada Tories, and 
Upper Canada Radicals, were both marvellously dis- 
appointed, for better and for worse, when their chief 
arrived ; for he proved to be a gentleman of an ancient 
and respectable family, and that his energies, instead of 
being devoted — as it was surmised they would be — to 
make William Lyon Mackenzie the first President of 
the State of Western Canada, were most admirably 
directed to keep everything in order; and mounting 
the old flag of his Fatherland on Government -house, 
he plainly told to all, that he came to recognize in 
Canada only the august principles of the British Con- 
stitution, and the sway of the monarch who sat on the 
throne of England. 



1 82 CANADA. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Civil and Military condition of both" the Canadas in 1837.. 

The British reader has now arrived at a period 
when the most interesting events were dawning in the 
Canadas. Sir Francis Head's policy, so diametrically 
opposed to that of Lord Gosford and the Commis- 
sioners, was placed fully before the Canadian public. 
He had declared in his first speech to the Legislature, 
he looked for " that loyal, constitutional, unbiassed, 
and fearless assistance which your King expects, and 
which the rising interests of your country require/' 
I was present in the House, standing beside the 
throne, when that maiden speech was delivered, and 
could not help remarking its effect. The Reformers 
did not know what to make of it, and the Constitu- 
tionalists wavered in their preconceived notions, whilst 
the instructions he had received were staggering to 
both parties. 

The Tories, who had strenuously opposed him at 
the very outset, from alarm, and had remonstrated 
against this very first act of his government, now 
united their resources to oblige him to strengthen his 
Privy Council from their party ; but as he was deter- 



CANADA. 183 

mined to act unbiassedly, he selected from the ranks 
hitherto more exclusive, the son of the celebrated Re- 
former, Dr. Baldwin, who advised the admission also 
of Dr. Rolph and of Mr. Dunn, the Receiver-general, 
the son of a venerable man. 

The first was an Irish patriot, w T hose name had been 
connected with the events of Irish history, and who 
had retired, with a large landed property, from the 
practice of medicine, the strenuous and untiring advo- 
cate of reform, of w T hich his son, who was a young 
lawyer, had just appeared as a champion. The second 
was also a medical man, who had also figured with some 
eclat as a lawyer, whose professional abilities in both 
spheres was considerable, and whose politics were exclu- 
sively Radical. The third was a Reformer of the new 
school, and a man of a small private fortune, pos- 
sessed, as it w r as then conjectured, of considerable 
interest in Downing-street. 

Mr. Baldwin, supported by all the Reformers of all 
shades and of all grades, made the terms of his accept- 
ing office the dismissal of the three Tory Councillors, 
which was promptly refused, and his father requested, 
with the same result, to supply his place. After some 
coquetting, however, Mr. Baldwin at length assented; 
and the Governor, that he might not be misunderstood, 
wrote a circular note to each of the aspirants, informing 
them that they might rely on his receiving their opi- 
nions upon all the subjects upon which " he might 
feel it advisable " to require them. 

They soon lifted the veil which covered the grand 
secret of their acceptance of office, and " Responsible 
Government" stared Sir Francis Head broadlv in the 



184 CANADA. 

face. His opinion was, that the Governor advises with 
the Executive Council on all State questions, but is not 
bound to adhere in every case to the advice offered. 
If he were, he would soon be a nonentity ; and, on the 
other hand, if he constantly disregarded its counselling, 
the country would suffer. 

On this grand subject of grievance five councillors 
resigned, because they would not hold office without 
the Governor being bound to govern according to their 
notions. The greatest farce on this occasion was, that 
three of the five derived their principal means from 
holdin * offices, in two cases, of the most lucrative and 
responsible nature, and thus sought to rule over the 
master they served. 

It does not require any great political foresight to 
predict, that if the Executive Council ruled the Queen's 
Representative, the Queen's Representative must rule 
the country as a partisan; for in all assemblages of 
men some one superior or active mind colours their 
deliberations. In the instance of the battle fought by 
the ex-Councillors, the whole machinery was set in play 
by one individual, Dr. Rolph, who, with great preten- 
sions to talent, has certainly had the merit of directing 
the course of the charioteers in their race with him for 
power, without the crowd being able to perceive his 
intentions, until he was at the goal; when he had, 
however, fortunately, not the faculty of making the 
most of his advantage. This man, endowed by nature 
with very versatile powers of mind, adds another link 
to the chain of reasoning which convinces the thought- 
ful that talents applied only to dazzle the ignorant are 
never of that solid order which shine not outwardly, 



CANADA. 185 

but force their way by conviction. Sophistry, in this 
utilitarian age, is not taken as wisdom. 

The Executive Council had plenty of employment in 
deciding land claims, besides the great mass of Govern- 
ment business regularly brought before it; and as it 
occupied a good deal of the time of its members, they 
had a salary of .£100 per annum, with the title of 
" Honourable " attached to their surnames, — whilst in 
office only. 

Dr. Rolph obtained from the three Tory members of 
the Council their signatures to a document which in- 
sisted on their right to give advice on all State matters, 
for which they were to be alone responsible, and the 
Lieutenant-governor thus to remain their mere tool; 
but Sir Francis very calmly accepted the resignation of 
all six, and was met by an address of the House 
of Assembly disapproving of his conduct, and highly 
applauding the friends of the people and the three 
Tory Councillors, who soon found that they had been 
entangled in a net of sophistry, out of which it was 
impossible to extricate themselves. The whole Tory 
party joined the Lieutenant - governor, and British 
feeling became uppermost and triumphant. 

The House was in a fever of excitement, and a notice 
was issued for a radical meeting, signed by the four 
members of the county adjacent to the capital. These 
men, who will figure by -and -by, were Mackenzie, the 
printer, and their leader; — Dr. Morrison, Mayor of 
Toronto, a medical practitioner of ultra -radical prin- 
ciples; — Gibson, a surveyor; — and M'Intosh. They 
convened their meeting, and were beaten and utterly 
defeated. 



186 CANADA. 

Mr. Bidwell — the real Coryphaeus — now, in his capa- 
city of Speaker of the House, prepared an address to 
his Majesty William IV., praying to be relieved of 
their despotic Lieutenant-governor, and even went so 
far as to impugn his veracity. 

Sir Francis bore it all very calmly, and employed the 
interval in disseminating printed statements in support 
of the Constitution, ably penned, and speaking to the 
feelings and to the understanding of the yeomanry of 
the province ; whilst the House, in answer, for the first 
time in Upper Canada, followed the pernicious example 
of Papineau, and stopped the supplies. Sir Francis, 
seeing no medium course, came to the resolution of 
declining to grant the usual contingencies ; and, refus- 
ing his assent to all money bills, dissolved the House. 

Such a scene, probably, will never again occur in 
Western Canada. The Lieutenant-governor went in 
State, the Royal Standard was hoisted opposite to the 
House, and a vast crowd collected in front of it. 
Sir Francis read the speech slowly and deliberately to 
the crowded Assembly. 

The Lieutenant-governor on concluding his speech, 
and on reappearing at the door of the Parliament 
House, was hailed by three hearty British cheers ; the 
people of all classes accompanied him home with his 
carriage ; and when the Speaker in his place read the 
speech to the Commons, the House rose up and 
received it with a burst of acclamation which had 
never before been heard, on any occasion, within the 
walls of that Assembly, whilst Mackenzie was in actual 
personal danger for a time. 

To afford the reader some idea of the exciting 



CANADA. 187 

scenes at Toronto during the latter part of Sir John 
Colborne's administration, and that of Sir Francis 
Head, I shall give two examples. Mackenzie, — 
indefatigable as an agitator, with his great friend 
Dr. Morrison, of Radical notoriety, — called a meet- 
ing to oppose the Government, and directed it to 
be held in a new pile of brick buildings, the Toronto 
Market-house, which was a square of two stories in 
height, whose interior w T as open, and embraced a large 
space, surrounded on the basement with- butchers' 
and greengrocers' shops, over which ran a gallery of 
wood. During the proceedings, the square and gal- 
leries being crowded to excess, one of the latter gave 
way under the weight and motion of the crowd, and 
horrid consequences ensued, chiefly to the young and 
eager men who had obtained front standing-room. The 
butchers' hooks, on w r hich carcasses and meat were 
usually hung, caught the bodies in descending, and 
some were actually suspended from them over the 
shambles, whilst others were impaled. Popular fury 
was at its height; but taught by the example of the 
destruction of Mackenzie's press, the young men of the 
Conservative party fortunately refrained from excesses 
which, on such an occasion, would have met with 
sympathy. The Agitator coolly ascribed these acci- 
dents, dreadful as some of them were, terminating in 
maiming and death, to the fault of the Tories, and 
asserted that the timbers which supported the flooring 
had been purposely cut through; for which assertion, 
on an examination, there w 7 as not the shadow of 
foundation, the fact having been that the galleries 
were originally meant only as passages to rooms and 



188 CANADA. 

warehouses in the first floor, and were too weak to 
support the tread, shifting, and weight of a crowd. 
Horrible were the impalements, fractures, and lacera- 
tions, and curses loud and deep mingled with the woe 
of parents and of friends. 

Mackenzie was assisted, but not openly, by Dr. 
Rolph, a person of greater ability than Morrison, and 
possessed of a bland persuasive manner. One scheme 
of the joint editors of those seditious papers, the 
Advocate and Correspondent, was to persuade the 
public that although the troops were, generally 
speaking, under the influence of their officers, yet that 
many of the soldiers wanted only an opportunity of 
turning their arms against them; and every attempt 
was made at one time to annoy Sir John Colborne, 
and to create disaffection amongst the soldiers ; whilst 
one sergeant, who had been discharged, was installed 
by Mackenzie into the office of High-constable during 
his mayoralty. This man afterwards drilled the rebels, 
and was taken as a deserter from them at Navy Island, 
as he pretended, but in reality it was believed he was 
employed as a spy. I do not recollect what became of 
him afterwards ; but to shew the extent to which the 
plan of demoralizing or annoying the troops was 
carried, I shall give an instance which occurred whilst 
I was a temporary commandant of Toronto, and that 
distinguished Highland Regiment, the 79th, with a 
few Artillerymen, composed its garrison. 

Finding all attempts at seducing the loyal Scotch- 
men unavailing, the revolutionary party attempted to 
bring them into collision with the people. 

A publican kept a respectable boarding-house near 



CANADA. 189 

my residence, whose father had been a Quartermaster- 
Serjeant; and having distinguished himself in the 
American war, had preferred Upper Canada as a 
loyalist, to the new-fangled States of the Republic. 
This publican, unworthy of his sire, was deep in the 
interests of the reform or revolutionary leaders, and 
became, although illiterate to such a degree as to be 
unable to write, an Alderman of the City, having, by 
his specious behaviour, deceived several loyalists into 
giving their votes for him. 

The House was sitting at its most stormy period, 
just before Sir John Colborne resigned ; and one act 
of the play now to be performed was, to take every 
opportunity of insulting the Military. Accordingly 
frequent assaults upon the soldiers took place; and to 
make the thing very conspicuous, mobs of boys fol- 
lowed them, especially if not quite sober, as far on 
their way to the Barracks as the Parliament House, in 
front of which, at the protracted nightly deliberations, 
shouting, hallooing, and execrating the troops was well 
kept up, for the purpose of disturbing the Legislative 
deliberations. 

I was looking out of my window one fine autumn 
night, just before retiring to rest, when I saw my 
friend the Alderman running by in great haste, and 
having heard one of the usual rows, I asked him what 
was the matter. He said the soldiers were killing the 
people. I buckled on my armour, as the Barracks 
were very distant, and sallied forth. The Governor's 
Guard-house was near ; and when I got to the front 
of the Parliament House, I found the customary game 
going on, at its gate, against the soldiers who were 



190 CANADA. 

intoxicated. The Alderman was very busily engaged 
in haranguing the mob upon the execrable tyranny 
and danger to the body politic of the military. Upon 
which, telling him that he was taking the very reverse 
method to that which Magistrates usually employed to 
quell disturbances, I pointed out that there were 
scarcely any persons annoying the men but a ragged 
score of boys, and that if he would send them off, I 
should call out the Serjeant of the Guard, and make 
the soldiers prisoners. I received a deal of rhetoric 
from my Aldermanic friend, and at last told him that 
he was acting as if he only wished the soldiers to use 
their arms, which, by-the-bye, they had lost or been 
deprived of, and that instead of keeping the peace, he 
himself was breaking it and doing all he could to 
create collision. Whereupon, having consigned the 
soldiers to military durance, I wished his worship a 
sound repose. Of course this ran the round of 
Mackenzie's press, and was a fine subject for a few 
days ; but as the facts were strictly those stated 
above, after exhausting every epithet which their voca- 
bulary yielded against the army, the trick fell into 
Lethe. 

I merely relate these occurrences to show how fast 
rebellion was making its way at that time; but we 
must return to Sir Francis Head, who having been 
threatened with the probability of the Lower Canadian 
population rising en masse to assist their revolutionary 
friends in Upper Canada, replied in answer to an 
address, " In the name of every Regiment of Militia, 
let them come if they dare !" and immediately hoisted 
on the top of Government-house the Union flag, as 



CANADA. 191 

a symbol that as long as that flag waved in Upper 
Canada, he would maintain the connection with Eng- 
land. These words, which will ever be remembered 
in that country, cut deeply into the minds of the 
revolutionists, and they cut w T ith more edges than 
one ; thus resembling the gladiatorial sword. 

Insinuations, palpable as the light of the sun, had 
been spread through every corner of the land, that in 
the event of the Reformers carrying the day, aid 
would be given upon the largest scale by the United 
States. 

The words of Sir Francis were directed against 
Papineau and his myrmidons, but with the usual 
trickery of Bidwell and his party; they, although 
their meaning was direct and palpable, were turned 
into an offensive declaration against the United States. 
Nobody in Canada misunderstood them, and if they 
came home to the sympathizers across the lines, so 
much the better ; but I can safely assert that such at 
the moment, was not their actual intent or purpose. 

To show what Sir Francis Head had to con- 
tend against at that time, I shall give a correct list 
of the Members of the House of Assembly, extracted 
from the Correspondent and Advocate, the organ cf 
Mackenzie's party, dated April 7th, 1836, now a 
curious document. By the term Native Canadian, is 
meant the original settlers, their descendants, or those 
born in the province. 



192 



CANADA. 



NATIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE MEMBERS OF 
THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY OF THE 12th PARLIA- 
MENT OF UPPER CANADA. 



NATIVE CANADIANS. 



Bruce Radical 

Cook " 

Chesser " 

Cornwall Tory 

♦Caldwell " 

*Boulton " 

*Hagerman " 

Jones " 

M'Donell (Stormont) ..Radical 

M'Lean Tory 

M'Donell, Northumblnd. " 
Morrison Radical 



M'Nab Tory 

M'Micking Radical 

M'Crea Tory 

Merritt " 

Perry Radical 

Roblin " 

Robinson Tory 

Richardson " 

Rymal Radical 

Smith " 

Small " 

Wells " 



* Born of British parents and came in at an early age. 

Sons of U. E. Loyalists born in the United States and came in 
with their parents when young. 

Moore Radical Shibley Radical 

Waters " Hopkins " 

Shaver " Woolverton " 



Parke Radical 

Brown Tory 



Wilson Radical 

Wilkinson Tory 



ENGLISH. 



Alway Radical 

Durand " 



Lewis Tory 

Taylor " 



AMERICANS. 



Bidwell Radical 

Duncombe C " 

Duncombe D " 

Gilchrist " 

Lount " 



Norton Radical 

Rykert Tory 

Walsh " 

Yager Radical 



Chisholm Radical 

Dunlop Tory 

Gibson Radical 

Mackenzie " 

M'Intosh " 

M'Kay Tory 



SCOTCH. 

M'Donell, Gleng Tory 

Malloch " 

Strange " 

Thorn " 

Thorburn Radical 



CANADA. 193 

Radicals. Tories. 

Native Canadians 24 — 12 — 12 

Scotch 11—5—6 

Americans 9 — 7 — 2 

Sons of U. E. Loyalists born 

out of this Province 6 — 6 — 

English 4 — 2 — 2 

Irish 4 — 2 — 2 

58 34 24 

County of Leeds unrepresented, but entitled to two members ; 
County of Hastings one member, dead. 

It will thus appear that at the outset of the Lieut. - 
governors career, there was a sheer majority of ten 
Radicals in a house of fifty-eight members; whilst more 
than one of those set down as Tories by Mackenzie 
were anything but Tories in the Radical sense of the 
word in Upper Canada. 

The New House, in 1837, after the successful appeal 
to the people, was somewhat differently constituted; 
and by chance I have kept a paper, which shows its 
analysis as follows ; and first giving the names of the 
members as a record of the times, I shall place it in 
juxta-position with the former. 

MEMBERS OF THE HON. THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY. 

Honorable Sir Allan Napier McNab, Speaker. 

TOWNS. 

W. Draper City of Toronto 

C. A. Hagerman . . Kingston 
C. Richardson .... Niagara 
Colin C. Ferrie . . . Hamilton 



H. Sherwood Brockville 

M. Burwell London 

G. S. Jarvis Cornwall 



COUNTIES. 

Richard P. Hotham...Prescott | Donald JE. M'Donald Storm ont 



John Kearns „ 

Thomas M'Kay .... Russel 
Donald M 'Donald . . Glengarry 
Alexander Chisholm.. ,, 
Alexander M'Lean . . Stormont 

VOL. I. 



Peter Shaver Dundas 

John Cook „ 

John A. H. Powell . . Lanark 
Malcolm Cameron . . „ 
John Bower Lewis . . Carletcn 



194 


» CANADA. 




Edward Mallock . . 


. . Carleton 


Alexander M f Donell..Northmbrld 


James Morris 


. . Leeds 


George S. Boulton ..Durham 


Ogle, R. Gowan . . 


• • j» 


George Elliott „ 


Hiram Norton .... 


. . Grenville 


J. W. Gamble, 1 st Riding York 


— Burritt 


a 


E. W. Thomson, 2nd „ 


James Mathewson 


. . Frontenac 


T. D. Morrison, 3rd „ 


John B. Marks .... 


• • ?» 


John Mcintosh, 4th „ 


John S. Cartwright 


(Lenox and 
v Addington 


Wm. B. Robinson . . . Simcoe 


George Hill Detlor 


James Wickens „ 


Charles Bockus . . . 


..P. Edward 


William Chisholm . . Halton 


James R. Armstron 


g » 


Absalom Shade „ 


David Duncombe .. 


. . Norfolk 


Sir Allan N. McNab..Wentworth 


W. Salmon 


>> 


Michael Aikman .... „ 


Thomas Parke .... 


. . Middlesex 


William H. Merritt ..Haldimand 


Elias Moore 




R. Woodruff, 1st Riding Lincoln 
George Rykert, 2nd „ 


William M'Crea .. 


..Kent 


Nathan Cornwall. . 


tf 


David Thorburn, 3rd „ 


John Prince 


. . Essex 


G. M'Micking, 4th „ 


Francis Caldwell. . 


• • >) 


Charles Duncombe . . Oxford 


Edmund Murney. . 


. . Hastings 


Robert Alway „ 


Anthony Manahan 


5) 


Robert G. Dunlop . . Huron * 


Henry Ruttan 


. . Northmbrld 




* The Lower House, House of 


Commons or of Assembly, as it is 


termed, consisted in 


1837 of 62 m 


ambers. 


Members. County. 




Members. County. 


2 . . Prescott 




2 . . Wentworth 


1 . . Russell 




1 . . Haldimand 


2 . . Glengarry 




4 . . Lincoln (four Ridings) 


2 . . Stormont 




2 . . Oxford 


2 . . Dundas 




2 . . Norfolk 


2 . . Lanark 




2 . . Middlesex 


2 . . Carleton 




2 . . Kent 


2 . . Leeds 




2 . . Essex 


2 . . Grenville 




1 . . Huron 


2 . . Frontenac 






2 . . Lenox and Addington 


City or Town. 


2 . . Prince Edward 


1 . . City of Toronto 


2 . . Hastings 






. Town of Niagara 


2 . . Northumberland 




. Town of Hamilton 


2 . . Durham 






. Town of Kingston 


4 . . York (four 


Ridings) 




. Town of Brockville 


2 . . Simcoe 






. Town of Cornwall 


2 . . Hal ton 






. . Town of London 



CANADA. 



195 



The British reader, for whom this work is chiefly 
intended, must not confound the terms Conservative 

Being 22 Counties returning 2 Members each ; 3 returning 1 each, 
and 2 of four Ridings returning 8, with one City Member, and 6 for 
boroughs or towns. 

And as it may afford some insight to the characteristics of the 
Counties and Towns to give an abstract of the supposed politics and 
religious sentiments of the Members who composed the Provincial 
Parliament previous to the Rebellion, I shall do so by extracting from 
the most ultra-party newspapers of that day, on each side, a, precis,— 
and the reader may consult the map of Upper Canada for the rest : 




Dundas * 

Lanark 

Carleton 

2 Leeds 

2 Grenville 

Frontenac , 

Lenox and Ad 
dington 

Prince Edward 

Hastings 



Northumber- 
land 



2 Durham t 



York.. 



Country. 




/English \ 

(Irish J 

Scotch 

/Ditto \ 

(Canadian Scotch/ 

/Ditto ,\ 

(Ditto J 

J Canadian 1 

(Ditto J 

/Scotch \ 

(Irish / 

(English \ 

(Scotch J 

(Irish | 

} Canadian, British > 
( descent ) 

(American desc...^ 
Canadian, Ame- > 
rican descent.. ) 

/Irish \ 

(English J 

(Canadian ^ 
Canadian, British > 
descent ) 

/Canadian \ 

(Ditto I 

[ Canadian, Eng-"j 
\ lish descent ... \ 
I Irish J 

(Canadian, British \ 
descent I 
Canadian, Scotch j 
descent ) 

{ Canadian, British \ 

j descent \ 

v Irish J 

(Scotch \ 
Ditto I 
English descent, 
from Quebec... 
Canadian, British 
descent 

K 2 



Conservative. 



Religion. 



Church of England. 



Ditto 


Kirk of Scotland. 


Ditto 


Roman Catholic. 


Ditto 


Ditto. 


Ditto 


'Kirk of Scotland. 


Radical 


j Roman Catholic. 


Ditto 


Methodist. 


Ditto.** 


Ditto. 


Conservative. 


Kirk of Scotland. 


Ditto 


1 Church of England 


Ditto 


Ditto. 


Ditto 


'Ditto. 

I 


Ditto 


Ditto. 


Ditto 


j Ditto. 


Radical 


Methodist. 


Ditto 


Church of England. 


Conservative. 


Ditto. 


Ditto- 


Ditto. 


Ditto 


Methodist. 


Ditto 


Church of England. 
Ditto. 


Ditto 


Ditto 


Methodist. 


Ditto 


Church of England. 


Ditto 


Roman Catholic. 



Ditto.. 
Ditto.. 



Ditto- 
Ditto.. 



Radical , 

Ditto 

Ditto... 

Conservative, 



Church of England. 
Roman Catholic. 



Church of England. 
Ditto. 



Presbyterian Dissent. 
Ditto. 
Methodist. 
Church of England. 



196 CANADA. 

and Radical, with, the meaning of those party desig- 
nations at home. Radical, in Canada, in it broadest 
sense is Revolutionary, and Conservative means any- 
thing but Tory, as many of the Conservatives in Upper 
Canada are not High Church and Statesmen, even of 
those who are excellent members of the Church of 
England. 



County. 



Simcoe. 
Halton . 



Wentworth . 
Haldimand . 



Lincoln 



Oxford...... 

Norfolk ... 
Middlesex* 



Kent.. 



Essexf , 

Huron , 

City of Toronto 

Niagara 

Hamilton .. 

Kingston 

Brockville .. 

Cornwall 

London 



Country. 



( Canadian, Eng- 
< lish descent ... 

(English 

J American 

(Ditto 

{Canadian 
Canadian, Scotch 
descent 

American 

1 Scotch 
American 
Canadian, Ame- 
rican 
American 

(Ditto 

{English 

/-American 

■! English 

hrish 

■{Canadian 

Canadian, Scotch 

descent 

Canadian 

(Ditto 

\ English 

Scotch 



English 

(Canadian, British \ 
t descent J 

Scotch 

Canadian 

Ditto 

Ditto 

Ditto 



Principles. 



Conservative. 

Ditto 

Ditto 

Ditto 



Ditto- 
Ditto.. 

Ditto- 



Radical 

Conservative. 

Radical 

Ditto 

Ditto 

Ditto 

Ditto 

Ditto 

Ditto 

Ditto 



Conservative. 
Ditto ... 

Ditto 

Ditto 

Ditto 

Ditto. 4 

Ditto 

Ditto 

Ditto 

Ditto 

Ditto , 

Ditto , 



Religion. 



Church of England. 
Ditto. 

Ditto. 
Ditto. 

Methodist. 
Church of England. 

Church of England. 

Presbyterian'Dissent. 
Church of England. 
Ditto. 
Presbyterian Dissent. 

Methodist. 
Church of England. 
Methodist. 
Church of England. 
Methodist. 
Quaker. 

Church of England. 
Ditto. 

Roman Catholic. 
Church of England. 
Church of Scotland. 

Church of England. 

Ditto. 

Church of Scotland. 

Church of England, 

Ditto. 

Ditto. 

Ditto. 



Total for counties and ridings, 55 ; for cities or towns, 7. 

* Those marked thus * are sons of U. E. Loyalists, born in the U. S., and 
came with their parents to seek shelter in Upper Canada, when young. 

t Those marked f are sons of British people, and came to Upper Canada 
with their parents when very young. 



It is curious to sum up this carefully. Out of the total number of 
Members, there were 28 Canadians, by which may be generally 



CANADA. 



197 



The Conservatives, or in other words, those who 
desired to retain the connection with Britain, were 
themselves split into two factions. The old families, 
if people of about sixty years' standing, or since 1784, 
may be so styled, were, with some exceptions, for British 
supremacy, under their own control ; the others were 

understood, persons born in the country, but whose parents were 
loyalists from the U. S. when the Revolution took place there. 



Canadians 28* 

Scotch 9 

Irish 7 

English 9 

Americans 9 



62 

Conservatives. 

Church of England 32 

Church of Scotland .... 5 

Church of Rome 5 

Methodists 3 

Presbyterian Dissenters . . 

Quaker 



Church of England .... 36 
Church of Scotland .... 5 

Church of Rome 6 

Methodists 10 

Presbyterian Dissenters... 4 
Quaker 1 

62 

Radicals. 

Church of England .... 4 

Church of Scotland .... 

Church of Rome ....... 1 

Methodists 7 

Presbyterian Dissenters . . 4 

Quaker 1 



Total Conservatives .. .45 Total Radicals. . . . 17 
Total Members 62 

It must be observed that those set down as Methodists were usually 
supposed to belong chiefly to sects of that body at, variance in doctrine 
with the "Wesleyans, and principally under American teachers, as were 
most of the Presbyterian Dissenters from the Kirk of Scotland, 
excepting of course the Free Kirk. The Radicals of the Church of 
England were also chiefly persons from the United States ; and it is 
but fair to both parties to state this, as well as that the Roman 
Catholics were a very loyal race in Upper Canada ; whilst amongst 
those styled Radicals there were very many who only desired a 
thorough reform of their grievances, and who had no desire for revo- 
lution. It is singular to find the single peace-making Quaker 
arraying himself on the agitating side of the question. 



26 of the Canadians were of the Church of England. 



198 CANADA. 

for British supremacy, and the high road to Fame's 
Temple, perfectly macadamized for all men of British 
extraction to travel over, with only the toll of talent 
and exertion to pay. Both were loyal, and both were 
true as steel ; but their collision, unless checked by 
the influx of British capital and knowledge, may here- 
after cause difficulty. The Reformers were as much 
divided, being loyal to a man, excepting those who were 
mere knights of the post, seeking disunion for their 
own selfish ends, and others for purposes already 
explained, combined with a not unnatural lurking 
desire to see their adopted country independent ; a 
desire which they have, however, expressed somewhat 
before dame Nature's good nursing has enabled them 
to compass their ends for that country's good, as 
money, the sine qua non of existence in such a state, 
must be wanting if Britain no longer rocks the 
cradle or sends human help to prepare the child's 
food. 

But, as the French say, revenons a nos moutons, let 
us get on with our story ; and now the reader may 
take a glance at the sixty-two members who com- 
posed the Parliament, which was sitting after the 
Rebellion broke out, those marked thus y, had, it is 
supposed, still a Radical tinge, and some did not take 
their places.* 

* HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, UPPER CANADA. 

TOWNS. 



City of Toronto 1 

Town of Kingston 1 

Town of Niagara 1 

Town of Hamilton 1 



4 



Town of Brockville 1 

Town of London 1 

Town of Cornwall 1 



CANADA. 199 

Having thus given a view of the state of parties, 
we shall return to Sir Francis, who was accused of 
using Government influence in the elections, which 
knocked Bidwell, Mackenzie, Peter Perry, &c, on 
the head, these hitherto popular leaders having been 
thrown out by large majorities* 

Constant Radical meetings were now held, and Dr. 
Duncombe was sent to England to prove that Sir 
Francis had been acting improperly. This man, who 
afterwards figured as a sorry runaway leader, was an 



COUNTIES. 



Prescott 2 

Russell 1 

Glengarry 2 

Stormont 1y 

Ditto 1 

Dundas 2y 

Lanark 2 

Carleton 2 

Leeds 2 

Grenville 1 y 

Ditto 1 

Frontenac 2 

Lenox and Addington .... 2 

Prince Edward 2 

Norfolk 1y 

Ditto 1 

Middlesex 2y 



Total .31 Total 31 

Conservatives 49 

Of the former Radical Parliament 13 

Total 62 

Of these 13, some were tried for rebellious practices, and some 
absconded, so that probably 10 may have been the number, and of 
these a few stated they were merely Reformers. 




200 CANADA. 

American, and the dismissal of Dr. Baldwin, Justice 
Ridout, and Mr. Small, completed his list of intole- 
rable grievances, with which the Colonial office was to 
be assailed. 

Dr. Duncombe sailed in one of the liners, as 
the packets are called which go from New York to 
London, with an officer of the Commissariat. By a 
curious coincidence, this officer found out who the 
gentleman was, as Dr. Duncombe travelled under a 
fictitious name, and by a still more curious chain of 
events, an officer in the army crossed next year in the 
same packet, and received very accurate information 
of the worthy Doctor's revolutionary intentions from 
conversations he had held only with the Americans 
on board. 

Sir Francis, on finding the accusations which were 
levelled against him, took a protracted and extensive 
tour through the province, and visited the Indians on 
the Great Manitoulin Island, securing from them the 
cession of a valuable and immense tract of land on 
the Eastern shores of Huron, and on the 8th of 
November, 1836, he again convened the Legislature. 

The first act of the Parliament was to pass a 
Supply Bill, in order to render justice to those whose 
incomes had been withheld, and everything went on 
with unusual smoothness, until the suspension of cash 
payments throughout the Banking Institutions of the 
neighbouring Republic threatened serious consequences 
in Canada ; and the elections for the municipal officers 
at Toronto, early in 1837, also threatened at first to 
disturb the public peace very seriously. 

As I was on the spot at the time, and fully 



CANADA, 201 

acquainted with most of the events then transpiring 
from day to day, I can safely say that the charge 
which was brought forward against Sir Francis, of 
tampering with the electors of the province, by the 
issue largely of land patents, was entirely a fabrication, 
and although cleverly got up, it failed in its purpose ; 
and the attempt by the disappointed faction to seat a 
leading Reformer in the Mayor's chair, also signally 
failed, as not only was the nominee deprived of all 
hope, but such was the extent of the reaction that every 
Reformer of the twenty, who offered themselves for 
the offices of Aldermen or Common Councilmen of 
Toronto, was rejected, and the Conservatives, with 
overwhelming majorities, were alone returned. Appre- 
hensions were now rife that there would be a run on 
all the chartered banks, and therefore the Legislature 
was summoned to meet in an unusual and extra 
summer session in 1837. 

Having public and private business to transact in 
England at this period, I left Toronto on the 27th of 
May, and proceeding across Lake Ontario in a huge 
steamboat, landed at Oswego, and went by the Erie 
Canal to Utica, took the railroad to Albany, and thence 
by the Hudson in a steamboat to New York, where 
finding the Mediator packet- ship ready for sea, I em- 
barked, and reached Portsmouth on the 19th of June, 
and travelling on to London, arrived there and deli- 
vered my dispatches at the Colonial - office on the 
morning of the 28th, whilst the proclamation of her 
Majesty's accession to the throne was going on at 
Charing-cross. 

I mention this to show the speed with which com- 
k 3 



202 CANADA. 

munication was kept up before the introduction of a 
regular line of steamers across the Atlantic. The dis- 
tance from Toronto to New York could not be less 
than 650 miles, and from Portsmouth to London is 72; 
so that including the sail across the broadest part of 
the Atlantic and up the English Channel, my voyages 
occupied only nineteen days ; and after remaining five 
weeks in London, I returned with dispatches for Lord 
Gosford and Sir Francis Head, reaching Toronto again 
on the 30th of August, four days within three months, 
by the very same packet-ship. 

When I was at Oswego, so little was then conceived 
of sympathizing movements in favour of a Canadian 
republic, that I held converse with some merchants, 
who were most desirous to afford me every information 
to forward views for the enlargement of the Welland 
Canal, which I was then engaged about, and procured 
for me a splendid set of the plans for a magnificent 
ship canal, which was in embryo, round the Falls of 
Niagara, and which officers of the American engineers 
had drawn and surveyed. Good-will towards England 
pervaded every place I passed through, and many were 
the toasts for King William and the President. 

Four short months sufficed to change this state of 
affairs. The moneyed relations of the United States 
had received a severe blow, which had re-acted upon 
Canada, and which placed the Lieutenant-governor in 
the unpleasant dilemma of being the arbiter of the 
power to suspend cash payments. His reasoning upon 
the financial difficulties of the United States is very 
able., and as his book is in everybody's hands, it will 



CANADA. 203 

be unnecessary to repeat them further than to observe 
that the unlimited paper currency and credit of those 
immense territories gave a stimulus to internal im- 
provement, which at once accounted for the sudden 
formation of cities in the wilderness, and for an exter* 
nal show of prosperity, which the more steady-going 
Canadians were blamed for not having thought about. 

The merchants of England have opened their eyes 
so fully upon the enormous paper traffic to which they 
had lent their capital, that it will be ages again before 
the bubbles of Transatlantic credit will float on the 
surface of British commerce ; and the fallacy of a full 
and overflowing treasury, created by internal resources, 
has been so well explained and laid bare, that con- 
fident John Bull will ask his brother Jonathan in future 
a few very systematic and searching questions before 
his bullion is exchanged for Wall-street notes. 

The conduct of the merchants and bankers of Upper 
Canada in this storm was extremely noble. A little 
agricultural province, of not half a million of inha- 
bitants, boldly withstood the whole moneyed power of 
the United States, and continued calmly and honestly 
to meet the ruinous demands upon its purse and 
industry. It was as proud a lesson of British faith 
and principles, as that of British endurance, courage, 
and honour, which so shortly followed in its wake. 

But we must now turn to Lower Canada in 1837, 
where similar events were transacting on a larger scale, 
and where Papineau was silently and surely, as he 
thought, preparing to create " La Nation Canadienne/' 
another bubble, which the sensible French Canadians 
of property laughed at. Louis Joseph Papineau was 



204 CANADA. 

a very different person from either Marshall Spring 
Bidwell, or William Lyon Mackenzie. The son of a 
very respectable father, — who was a notary public at 
Montreal, and who recently died at a very advanced 
age, — he had embraced the profession of the law, and 
in 1837 was about forty-eight years old, middle-sized, 
and inclined to corpulency. His face was strongly 
marked with that peculiar style of features we see in 
people whose ancestors were Jews, and were shaded 
by his large, dark, very arched eyebrows, and nearly 
black hair ; his eye, dark, quick, and penetrating ; and 
altogether he seemed fitted by nature for the part he 
played. The outward man gave an appearance of de- 
termination to the fluency and force of his oratory, 
which carried, (even in private society, combined with 
his conversational talents and his well-stored mind,) 
so much weight, that by a cultivated and gentle- 
manly address, he drew after him the admiring mul- 
titudes of his countrymen, who were fully persuaded 
that he was destined to act the part of a regenerator 
to the Canadian nation ; and that he was at least equal, 
if not superior, to Washington. 

His early life was no doubt biassed a good deal by 
the political opinions of his venerable father, who had 
for years been styled " Le Pere des Patriotes," but 
whose patriotic notions had not reached so far as a 
desire to sever his country from British dominion, as 
he only stood forward as the assertor of those rights 
which the capitulation of Quebec had granted. In fact, 
the Pere Papineau had held his own political meet- 
ings, and at one of them, fancying that the old feudal 
tenures and the Catholic religion were in some danger, 



CANADA. 205 

he had vehemently declaimed against a projected union 
of the provinces, and in the Champ de Mars had 
obtained an address to the King, signed by no fewer 
than 80,000 Canadians, who deprecated any change in 
the Constitution. 

It is said, by those best acquainted with the family, 
that the father, who died considerably above ninety 
years of age, grieved at the aberrations of his son ; and 
was convinced that passion, pride, and a desire for pre- 
eminence, instead of pure patriotism, were his guides 
in the reckless courses he had embraced with so much 
ardour. 

The great mistake which this man appears to have 
made, was that of trusting to the support of the United 
States in his attempt to separate Canada from the 
mother country. He vainly imagined that the Ameri- 
can republic would cordially embrace the Canadian 
national cause, and seat him in the Presidential chair. 
Whether he really intended that the feudal laws of 
old France should still form a portion of the " Code 
Papineau" or that the Roman Catholic religion should 
be the State creed, would have remained a profound 
secret, had not his generals Brown and Nelson deve- 
loped the mystery, when they judged the time had 
arrived to enlighten the American borderers. 

I remember, the year before the Rebellion, travelling 
a very long journey through the wildest forests of 
Canada with a venerable and highly respected dignitary 
of the Roman Catholic church, of Canadian birth. In 
such journeys much talk occurs, for which there would 
not be opportunities elsewhere, and among other 
subjects that of the state of Canada was discussed. 



206 CANADA, 

I asked my compagnon de voyage many questions, being 
desirous to hear a person so well qualified to speak the 
sentiments of the Roman Catholic clergy; who y as 
a body, in Canada, are eminently respectable, emi- 
nently peaceable, and eminently amiable. He told 
me that Papineau neither received, nor would ever 
receive the countenance of that clergy ; that his daring 
schemes were not laid on the foundations of virtue or 
of patriotism; and that he was chiefly supported by 
those restless men who are to be found in every 
country, and who in Canada were usually doctors or 
lawyers, or very young men, desirous more of change 
than of the welfare of their country. He said that as 
to supporting the church of his fathers in the cause 
he had espoused, he believed firmly that Papineau 
never suffered its future interests to occupy his atten- 
tion for a moment, or that he ever cared much about 
it, in a political point of view ; in short, that his own 
political advancement was the darling object of his 
unremitted manoeuvrings. 

The priesthood, in fact, in Canada, are well aware 
that a change would injure rather than advance the 
Roman Catholic church. They enjoy incomes quite 
equal to their wants ; and possessing the affections of 
their flocks, they have seen quite enough to convince 
them that the young blood in Canada is pretty much 
the same as the young blood of France, and quite as 
disposed to treat the ceremonies and the obligations of 
that church as rather too antiquated for such an 
aspiring race. 

In the commencement of the symptoms of re- 
bellion in August, 1837, the Head of the Roman 



CANADA. 207 

Catholic Church at Montreal, having assembled six 
bishops, and more than 140 priests to witness the 
consecration of the Bishop of Telmesse, on this occa- 
sion his Lordship, the Bishop of Montreal, addressed 
his clergy and said, "That so solemn an occasion as 
the present had never presented itself; that he saw 
nearly all his clergy met before him, and that he was 
going to take advantage of the circumstance to afford 
the pastors of parishes certain notices of the highest 
importance in the present state of the country. That 
the clergy were to use every effort to establish charity 
and union among their flocks. That they were to 
represent to their parishioners that it is never per- 
mitted to revolt against lawful authority, nor to trans- 
gress the laws of the land. That they are not to 
absolve in the confessional any indication of the 
opinion that one may revolt against the Government 
under which we have the happiness to live; or that 
it is permitted to break the laws of the country, 
particularly that which forbids smuggling; and still 
less is it allowed to absolve those who may violate 
these laws." 

On this his Lordship proposed the health of the 
Sovereign, and it was received with the utmost enthu- 
siasm. The six bishops and all the clergy rose and 
repeated the toast respectfully, and then expressed 
their entire approval of the notice which their chief 
pastor had given them. 

The excellent Roman Catholic Bishop of Regiopolis 
(Kingston) Upper Canada, addressed his flock in the 
most energetic and spirited manner; but Bishop 
MacdonelPs memory there is too well known for me 



208 CANADA. 

to need to enlarge upon it. He lived and died in his 
duty as a loyal and faithful subject. 

There is, in fact, in Lower Canada as much differ- 
ence between the unsophisticated habitan of the 
country places, whose fathers and grandfathers, for 
hundreds of years, have jogged on with the capot, 
the queue, the bonnet rouge, the traineau, the pipe, and 
the quiet dance and petit gout, and the self-sufficient 
young lawyer or merchant's clerk, and the rising 
blood of the cities, as there is between the courtier of 
the days of the Grande Monarque and he of the 
Citizen King. Republican ideas and false notions of 
the rights of man have spread widely amongst the 
upper classes, and w r ill, if^not checked in time, ruin 
the fine and excellent moral character of the yeomanry 
and peasantry of Eastern Canada. Papineau has had 
much to answer for in this respect, for before his 
revolutionary notions became expanded, Jean Baptiste 
was, universally, an honest fellow, and one that you 
could not meet without liking. He is still so, and if 
once his habits of reasoning, which require time to 
collect, are put again into their old train, and he is 
convinced that England wishes to make him a man, 
instead of continuing him in the position of a serf, he 
will fight England's battles again, as he did before, 
honestly, fearlessly, and loyally; for in his heart Jean 
Baptiste loves the sacre Bostonais (the American) but 
little. His religion meets no sympathy there, and the 
keen habits of the borderers of the United States are 
but very little in unison with the steady, regulated, 
quiet, and unsuspicious nature of the Canadian. I 
confess I like Jean Baptiste extremely, and I have 



CANADA. 209 

seen him in most characters ; but he is as easily 
imposed upon by designing politicians and knaves, as 
he is open to kindness and friendliness. Let us, there- 
fore, as Britons, take him into our confidence, and he 
will yet repay us. To-morrow, if I were ordered to 
travel from Quebec to the Rocky Mountains, or in any 
part of the vast, lonely, and silent forests of Canada, 
where civilized man had never set his foot, Jean 
Baptiste, with his ready song, his patient endurance 
of hardship and fatigue, and his native politesse, should 
alone be on the roll of the voyageur ; and although our 
creeds and our thoughts would be very different, yet 
nothing would ever for a moment convince me, at 
a distance from all help and succour, but that my 
good French Canadians would perish rather than not 
defend me in peril, or see me want w r here they could 
supply me. 

Throughout the rebellion, the voyageurs, for three 
years of excitement, never lost their character ; and in 
Upper Canada the French Canadians were amongst 
those the most devotedly loyal. In Lower Canada they 
were led by sophistry and the false glare of freedom, 
to do that which any people, not much educated or 
much previously in the habit of reasoning, can be 
always led to, namely, to follow in the wake of dema- 
gogues and of excited pseudo-patriots. But, as I 
said before, Papineau committed a vast error with 
respect to the Government of the United States. The 
States of the Union had received a blow which they 
were staggering under from Maine to Florida, when 
the rebellion broke out. Their credit system had 
forced open the guarded locks of their national 



210 CANADA. 

Treasury, and the imprisoned angels were let forth, 
not again to return, even at this time. 

War with Great Britain, untrammelled by foreign 
convulsions was, therefore, out of the question; and 
although the fiery spirits of Vermont, New York, 
Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan, were ready to 
cross the borders, and follow the star of liberty, and 
the fire-eaters of the State of Maine, were also ready 
to make the Boundary Question swallow up all 
Canada, yet the Government knew well that this was 
no time to meddle with Great Britain, whose giant 
strength had been refreshed by thirty-two years of 
peaceful slumber, and whose steam navy already 
amounted to something beyond calculation. Besides, 
had it suited the United States then to have put in 
practice its long-cherished plan of annexing the 
Canadas to the Union, what pretext could have been 
afforded to the other Nations of Europe, who are 
always looking with extreme jealousy upon the 
advances of American institutions. 

The Sovereigns of the Old World, convenient as 
they may occasionally find the American ensign to 
shadow the lustre of the British flag, nevertheless 
cannot help knowing that if the Republicans overrun 
the whole Continent of America, they will soon 
obtain, what their present seaboard does not afford 
them, ports and interior channels, whence the coasts 
of the Cis-atlantic regions might witness events which 
it is as well to anticipate. 

England, in fact, although the term is obsolete, 
still holds the balance of power in the general world. 
She preserves the antique and time-honoured crowns 



CANADA. 211 

of Charlemagne and the Roman Emperors, on the 
brows of their successors, as firmly as she upholds the 
continuance of her own free and liberal Constitution, 
and by retaining Canada, prevents the further spread 
of a power whose eagle would hurl down all crowns, 
sceptres, and balls, as it nearly did, by fanning with 
its wings the flame of French destructiveness. 

Papineau vainly thought, too, that the young Re- 
public of the United States would calmly observe a 
nursling taking upon itself the duties and state of 
adolescence. He imagined himself, in short, a Wash- 
ington, and that the President of the United States 
could not do less than acknowledge him as a brother. 

How woefully he was mistaken events have proved. 
The Americans made no secret of what they would 
have done, had his rebellion been successful. They 
would have made Canada another Texas, nominally 
independent, subject, nevertheless, to the will of her 
powerful neighbour. They would have declared the 
laws and institutions of the United States paramount, 
and the offices of the country would have been filled 
by the citizens of New York and of Vermont. The 
English language would alone have been recognized, 
and the Roman Catholic Religion must have been put 
upon the footing of the least favoured; as, notwith- 
standing all that may be advanced respecting Ireland 
to the contrary, it is not a creed favourable to extreme 
Democracy, and therefore finds but little sympathy in 
the mobility of the United States. 

But to return to the early part of 1837, in Lower 
Canada. The violent attempt of Papineau and his 
followers to seize the authority of the Governor and to 



212 CANADA. 

exclude British emigants from Canada, was met by 
Lord John Russell, the Colonial Minister, with energy. 
He declared that an Elective Legislative Council 
could not be granted consistently with the funda- 
mental principles of the British Constitution, nor 
would he listen to the Executive Council being placed 
entirely under the control of the House of Assembly. 
He also intimated that the Local Government should 
be carried on by paying the salaries from the Imperial 
Droits of the Casual and Territorial Revenues, and 
that a sum amounting to nearly £150,000 should 
be drawn from the Colonial Treasury, to liquidate the 
outstanding claims of arrears due to the Judges and 
Public Functionaries. 

These vigorous measures were, however, nipped in 
the bud, as Parliament was dissolved by the demise 
of William IV. The Lower Canadians were in a 
ferment, and every scheme that art or exertion 
could devise or put in practice, was resorted to, to 
bring the peasantry into collision with the Govern- 
ment. 

The counties of Montreal and Richelieu, the foci 
of rebellion, declared at public meetings that the mea- 
sures voted in the British House of Commons were 
tantamount to a virtual denial of Canadian rights, and 
that it was useless to petition, or to rely upon, the 
British Government any longer ; and assuming, in the 
mightiness of the indignation of the Canadian people, 
a power imitated from the first acts of the nascent 
American rebellion of yore, they passed most formid- 
ably frothy resolutions, declaring that it was necessary 
to paralyze England by withholding the use and con- 



CANADA. 213 

sumption of British manufactures, and proposing a 
Congress to prepare for resistance. 

Papineau, now, without appearing very openly, was 
secretly training the Canadians, in nightly meetings 
to the use of arms, and early in the month of July, 
Lord Gosford thought that matters were assuming so 
serious an aspect, that he procured a reinforcement 
of a regiment of the line from Nova Scotia. 

Counter meetings of the loyalists were now frequent, 
and declarations of unalienable loyalty to the British 
Crown appeared, in the most determined and apparent 
manner, both at Montreal, and through the British 
sections of the province. 

The following is an answer to a letter from the 
Civil Secretary of the Governor-general, requiring 
Mr. Papineau, as an officer of Militia, to state whether 
he was present at a meeting at St. Laurent on the 
16th May, 1837 ; at which, violation of the laws 
was distinctly recommended, and whether he, holding 
a commission from the state, as Major in the 3rd 
Battalion of Montreal Militia, had concurred (which 
it was notorious he not only did, but was mainly 
concerned), in those resolutions and requiring ex- 
planation. 

The rudeness of the answer, its contemptuous tone, 
and the manner in which Monsieur Papineau set him- 
self at once above all law, with the Republican mode 
of addressing the Secretary as merely Samuel Walcott, 
Civil Secretary, an expedient of annoyance, always 
resorted to in like cases, shows that Papineau knew 
the time was soon coming when his projects would 
show a head. 



214 CANADA. 

"Montreal, \Uh August, 1837. 
" Samuel Walcot, Civil Secretary. 
" Sir, 
" The pretension of the Governor to interrogate me 
respecting my conduct at St. Laurent on the 16th 
May last, is an impertinence, which I repel with con- 
tempt and silence. 

" I, however, take the pen merely to tell the 
Governor, that it is false, that any of the Resolutions 
adopted at a meeting of the County of Montreal, held 
at St. Laurent on the 16th May last, recommend 
violation of the laws, as in his ignorance, he may 
believe, or as he at least asserts. 

"Your obedient Servant, 

"L. J. Papineau." 

Lord Gosford, whose good intentions towards the 
French had been rudely repulsed, was perhaps of too 
kind a disposition for a ruler who would have to 
prepare for the coming storm, and calling the Legis- 
lature together in the month of August, he laid before 
it the resolutions of the British Commons, which 
had been carried by a vote of 318 to 56 on the 
question of an Elective Council, and on the other 
great points at issue, by unprecedented majorities. 

These resolutions were the rule of guidance for the 
Government, and in the debate, which ensued on 
them, Andrew Stuart, Esq., a name dear to science and 
good government in Canada ; now, alas ! a remembered 
one only, as the representative of Quebec, proposed 
that the House of Assembly should meet the views 
of the home authorities. Sixty-three members scouted 



CANADA. 215 

the idea, and only thirteen rose to defend it ; whilst 
an address was carried by a majority only of fifteen, 
every word of which was disloyal, and left Lord 
Gosford no other resource than to send the consti- 
tuents to their homes. 

In the meantime, Mr. Papineau had addressed 
a circular letter to the Houses of Assembly in the 
other provinces, to beseech them to make common 
cause with Lower Canada against the British Govern- 
ment. We have now arrived at the brink of the gulf 
of Rebellion, into w T hich Papineau was hurried by the 
fatal security w T hich he rested in, from supposing 
that the Republicans of America would rush in a body 
to his assistance, and buoyed up by the famous letter 
of Mr. Joseph Hume (which was afterwards taken 
amidst his baggage, when he left his Nation Cana- 
dienne to fight its own battles), asserting " the bane- 
ful domination of England over her Colonies." 

The British Canadian prisoners I had taken in 
1837, and who were mostly farmers, have told me 
that they were still sure the Whig Government was 
secretly in their favour ; and in this error they con- 
tinued, and most likely will continue, as Mr. Hume 
was supposed by them and by all uninformed poli- 
ticians in Canada, to be one of the principal sup- 
porters of the Whig Government. In fact, the gross 
deceptions that had been practised upon these dwellers 
of the woodland districts was inconceivable. They 
all imagined that parsons and tithes were to be foisted 
on them " willy nilly/' and that aristocracy, in its 
most despotic form, was to be the order of the dav; 
but more of this by-and-by. 



216 CANADA. 

To meet all this lowering and threatening storm 
of discontent, what was the military state of Canada 
in the autumn of 1837 ? Why, with the single excep- 
tion of Quebec, and the unfinished casemated reduit or 
citadel of Kingston, all the fortifications had become 
the cankered remains of a long peace. The guns, 
the swords, the bayonets rusted in the ordnance 
stores; and to mount a battery for the field or for 
the garrison was about as difficult an experiment 
as an artillery or an engineer officer could have had 
to perform. Twenty-two years of profound peace had 
made sad havock in harness, in wagons, in carriages, 
limbers, wheels, drag-ropes, and the munitions of war. 
The very powder was so-so, and as for blankets and 
bedding, the moths had long ago consigned them to 
the sale-shops. Not a ship, boat, sail, or oar was 
in the Dockyard at Kingston, which had become a 
grazing pasture ; and the sole charge of that right arm 
of the military service, the royal engineer department, 
was limited to patching up barracks which time had 
sapped. The regiments of the line were on the Peace 
Establishment, and in Upper Canada consisted of two, 
the 24th and the 66th, with two companies of Artil- 
lery and three or four officers of engineers. The 
Artillery were chiefly at Kingston, without horses to 
their guns ; the 24th were at Toronto, and at the 
upper lake posts of Niagara, Amherstburgh, and 
Penetangueshene ; the 66th chiefly at Kingston. Per- 
haps the whole force might amount to 1,300 men, 
including artillery, for a frontier of a thousand or 
fifteen hundred miles in extent. In Lower Canada it 
was much the same, with a more exposed frontier 



CANADA. 217 

immediately contiguous to the Uuited States \ and to 
control a nation of different origin, we had the 2nd 
Battalion of the Royal Regiment, or 1st Foot, the 
15th and the 32nd Regiments, and three Companies 
of Artillery, with four or five engineer officers, perhaps 
altogether not more than 1,700 men, with a popula- 
tion of 575,000 to control, and a fortress of the mag- 
nitude and importance of Quebec to garrison ; the 
constant cry for reduction of Military expenditure 
thus tying up the hands of the Government. 

The British settlers in Lower Canada were then in 
round numbers 175,000 ; those in Upper Canada, 
500,000 ; so that the British Canadians were about 
one-fifth stronger in numbers than the French race, 
but separated by a great extent of territory from them, 
whilst the French were actually concentrated along 
the banks of the St. Lawrence and its tributary 
streams. But although the British race were nume- 
rically stronger than the French Canadians, yet in 
Upper Canada there were a great many Americans 
and British Canadians, imbued with American prin- 
ciples; and thus out of the million and a quarter 
of persons composing the Canadian public, the parties 
at the outbreak for constitutional government and 
loyalty were about equal to the Radical Reformers. 

The population of Upper Canada has always been 
underrated, as well as that of Lower Canada. Dr. 
Fothergill, — who published, in 1839, an excellent 
Almanac, which included a great deal of statistical 
information, — shows that from the annual population 
returns of the year 1839, Upper Canada gave 391,574; 
and that from the careless manner in which these returns 

VOL. I. l 



218 CANADA. 

were made out, one-fourth jnight safely be added, or 
97,893; the settled residents making 489,467, whilst 
the lumber-men and squatters in the forest were about 
3,500 ; the settlers in townships, not subjected as yet 
to appoint proper officers to make their returns, 2,500 ; 
Indians, 7,500; emigrants unlocated, 3,000; Army, 
Navy, and persons employed in navigating the lakes, 
7,500. Total, 513,467. But as great part of this 
population was fluctuating, half a million, in round 
numbers, was the population of Upper Canada in 
1837; and although the numerical strength of the 
opposing parties was nicely balanced, yet the leading 
men of both, who, in the event of an union of the two 
provinces, were sure to be returned to the United 
House of Assembly, gave a very different result, and 
reduced the certainty of physical force, from the like- 
lihood of their sentiments prevailing over those who 
only made loyalty a stalking-horse, to the true limits 
defined in the Albion, a paper firmly British and con- 
stitutional, which was possessed of the most undoubted 
sources whereby to arrive at the truth. The Editor 
of that paper, on the 21st of December, 1839, thus 
prophetically classes the contending parties, just pre- 
vious to the grand scheme of union, and supposes the 
Lower House of the united Canadas to contain 100 
members : 

. Upper Canada. Lower Canada. 

Loyal .... 30 Loyal .... 10 

Radical . . . 20 Radical ... 40 

50 50 

which gives a majority of twenty to the Radical 



CANADA. 219 

Reformers ; rather too high in my opinion, but still 
not far wide of the truth, as will appear when w r e 
arrive at the year 1842, in this chronismatic view of 
Canadian affairs. 

Fortunately for Canada, when Sir Francis Head 
arrived his predecessor proceeded, in the depth of 
one of the most severe winters we had experienced, 
to Montreal, to wait for an opportunity of embarking 
w r ith his family for New York. 

A sign of the coming times here developed itself. 
Sir John Colborne left Toronto, the city he created,* 
in triumph, and the loyal people of Upper Canada 
made his progress one continued scene of the most 
gratifying nature. On his subsequent journey to 
New York, he was met by a pleasing mark of Royal 
favour and requested to continue in the command of 
the army in Canada, which, on his return to Montreal, 
the whole country greeted as an evidence that it had 
regained, by that single act, all that continued, but 
well-meant concessions, had forfeited. 

Sir John Colborne (Lord Seaton), one of the best 
officers of the Wellington era, was, therefore, once 
again before the Canadian public, and we shall soon 
meet him in another capacity; — but it is full time 
to bring this chapter to a close. 

* Population in 1851, 25,166 souls. — Editor. 



L 2 



220 CANADA. 



CHAPTER IX. 



The close of the year 1837, and the Outbreak of the Lower Canada 
Rebellion. 



Lord Gosford, in November, 1837, found himself 
in a most awkward predicament. The " Nation Cana- 
dienne," with Papineau at its head, determined in an 
evil moment to try its strength with the British Govern- 
ment, and all his Lordship's schemes of conciliation 
and kindness were scattered to the winds ; he was, 
in short, totally unable to struggle with circumstances. 
But he had a man of military experience and renown 
to fight his battles. 

The first overt act was concerted by Thomas Storrow 
Brown, who, possessed by the demon of revolution, had 
nothing to lose and everything to gain by becoming 
Generalissimo of the Patriot forces. Accordingly, on 
the 6th November, 1837, the trial of skill was made 
in Montreal. An association had been formed there, 
styled " Les fils de la Liberie;" and with Brown as 
their chief, these sons of Canadian freedom assembled 
in the yard of Bonacina's tavern, in front of the 
American Presbyterian Church, in Great St. JamesV 
street ; and shortly after two o'clock, 250 heroes sallied 



CANADA. 221 

forth into the city, determined to carry everything 
before them. The first person who received a slight 
hurt was a man of the name of Whitelaw, a carpenter, 
whose coat was perforated by a pistol-ball. The leader, 
Brown, was immediately knocked down by a member 
of " The Doric Club," consisting chiefly of the young 
loyalists of the city. Brown was then severely handled, 
and the rebels, chasing their opponents, broke the 
windows of the persons obnoxious to them, and cleared 
St. Jameses-street. The Dorics receiving a reinforce- 
ment, the battle became general, and Brown's party 
fled into the main street of the St. Lawrence suburb, 
where they were pursued, beaten, and dispersed, after 
a short fight in Dorchester-street. 

The indignation of the loyalists now knew no bounds ; 
they entered the house of a man of the name of Idler, 
where the rebels had met occasionally to drill, and 
finding a severa-barrelled gun, a double-barrelled one, 
a musket, a sword, and the flag of " Les fils de la 
Liberie," they sacked the house, and delivered the 
offensive weapons to the magistrates. A Mr. Joshua 
BelPs house next attracted their attention, as this 
person was thought to have acted a double part in the 
game ; and he, to preserve his property, had snapped 
a fowling-piece out of a window. 

The Riot Act in the meantime had been read, and 
soon afterwards the 1st or Royal Regiment appeared, 
supported by artillery; but nothing could prevent 
a demonstration upon the house of Papineau, and 
the destruction of Ludger Duvernay's office, where 
the Vindicator, a furious radical paper, had been 
printed, and the types, the paper, and everything 



222 CANADA. 

connected with it, were destroyed or thrown into the 
kennel. 

The inhabitants who were attached to order and 
reason, now formed themselves into a town -guard, 
and at night were stationed at all the entrances to 
the city. 

In the county of I/Acadie, simultaneous acts of 
rebellion occurred, bodies of two or three hundred men 
visiting the houses of those who were opposed to their 
designs, and compelling the loyal French to resign 
their militia commissions, and to write letters of resig- 
nation, in which they were directed to state, that they 
never again would hold commissions under the Queen, 
or serve under Lord Gosford. Such was the panic 
inspired in this extensive county, that many persons, 
whose circumstances enabled them to do so, left it to 
take the protection of the troops and the laws. 

Papineau must have felt that this first attempt at 
revolution was very disheartening to the cause, and 
that it would require all his powers of persuasion to 
induce the quiet and moral Canadians to believe, as 
his proclamations asserted, that he was " a brilliant 
leader, and a constellation of moral excellence." 

It was now industriously circulated by the frontier 
presses, that J. A. Roebuck, Esq., M.P., who had advo- 
cated their cause in the British Parliament, was on his 
way from England, and that fifteen millions of freemen 
in the United States, only waited with their rifles in 
their hands, to proclaim La grand Nation Canadienne. 

Upper Canada took fire at once. The idea of the 
United States interfering in the domestic quarrels of 
Canada, was quite enough for the bile of John Bull's 



CANADA. 223 

Canadian offspring ; and we cannot do better than to 
afford the British reader, out of many similar meetings, 
the resolutions and addresses of that at Kingston, 
which immediately followed the outbreak of the " Sons 
of Liberty" at Montreal, expressive of the sense of the 
Upper Canadians of that one act of Sir Francis Head, 
which has been so much blamed and so much praised, 
the withdrawal of all the regular troops from the 
province, to reinforce Sir John Colborne in Lower 
Canada.* 

* GREAT MEETING IN KINGSTON. 

{From the "Kingston Chronicle") 

At a very numerous and respectable meeting of the inhabitants of 
Kingston, convened by requisition addressed to Richard Bullock, Esq., 
High- sheriff of the Midland District, and held at the Court-house on 
Thursday, the 2nd day of November, 1837 ; — the meeting was opened 
by the High- sheriff as Chairman, who explained the object of the 
meeting ; Mr. Francis M. Hill was chosen Secretary ; when it was — 

Moved by John S. Cartwright, Esq,, M.P.P. ; and seconded by 
James Macfarlane, Esq. : 

" 1. Resolved, — That we are at all times ready to unite with the 
different provinces of British North America, in all proper measures 
of Reform, and in all matters concerning our interest, or those of the 
British Colonies, or in any way tending to support and defend our 
rights as British subjects, consistent with the supremacy of the 
British Government. Carried nem, con." 

Moved by Thomas Kirkpatrick, Esq. ; and seconded by John 
Counter, Esq. : 

" 2. Resolved, — That this Meeting looks with concern and regret 
on the proceedings of the revolutionary faction in Lower Canada, as 
tending, not to the legitimate removal of any known or imaginary 
grievances, but to the utter subversion of the British Constitution. 
Carried nem. con" 

Moved by Anthony Manahan, Esq., M.P.P. ; and seconded by 
John Strange, Esq. : 

" 3. Resolved, — That circumstanced as this province is, in relation 
to Lower Canada, we cannot any longer defer the declaration of our 



224 CANADA. 

This was the general, although not the universal 
feeling in Upper Canada; and the rebellion there had 

determination to support with our lives and fortunes, the supremacy 
of the British Constitution, and the just dependency of the Canadas 
upon the British Crown. Carried nem. con." 

Moved by John Marks, Esq., M.P.P. ; and seconded by Major 
Logie : 

" 4. Resolved,— That this Meeting will promptly assist the endea- 
vours of the loyal and well-disposed inhabitants of Lower Canada in 
maintaining the liberty and laws of the British Constitution in that 
province ; being convinced that it only requires moderate firmness on 
the part of our general Government, to suppress the attempts of the 
rebellious party there, who for many years have retarded our agri- 
cultural and commercial prosperity, and the general improvement of 
both provinces. Carried nem. con." 

Moved by John Richardson Forsyth, Esq. ; seconded by Walter 
M'Cunliffe, Esq. ; 

" 5. Resolved, — That understanding that His Excellency Sir 
Francis Bond Head has signified his assent to the removal of Her 
Majesty's troops of the line from this province, for the purpose of 
aiding the Civil Power in Lower Canada, this Meeting cannot but 
feel gratified at the confidence which His Excellency has thus mani- 
fested in the loyalty of the people of Upper Canada, and which we 
are determined to prove, should occasion require it, has not been mis- 
placed. Carried by acclamation.' * 

Moved by James Sampson, Esq.; and seconded by Francis Hill, Esq. : 

" 6. Resolved, — That proud as we are of our origin as Britons, and 
dearly as we value the blessings of our glorious Constitution, we can- 
not but regard as our enemies all those who would assail the one, or 
endeavour to subvert the other ; and in order to assist our country- 
men and friends in Lower Canada, in defending these cherished 
objects from the assaults of their foes, that it is expedient, under the 
sanction of His Excellency the Lieutenant-governor, to raise and 
enrol a Volunteer-corps in this town, to be in readiness to act in the 
hour of need ; and we take this occasion heartily to congratulate the 
loyal population of Lower Canada on their good fortune, in beholding 
at the head of Her Majesty's troops in their province an officer of 
such tried gallantry, vigilance, and decision as Sir John Colbome ; 
and we feel assured that to act under such a commander would be an 
additional attraction to Volunteers from Upper Canada. Carried by 
acclamation." 



CANADA. 225 

crept on so slowly and imperceptibly, that even as late 
as May, 1837, I, who knew as much of the people of 

Moved by William Wilson, Esq. ; and seconded by Mr. G, H. 
M'Lean : 

" 7. Resolved, — That copies of these Resolutions be transmitted to 

His Excellency the Earl of Gosford, His Excellency Sir Francis 

Bond Head, Lieutenant-general Sir John Colborne, and the Presidents 

of the Constitutional Associations in Montreal and Quebec. Carried.' ' 

RICHARD BULLOCK, Chairman. 

The Chairman having left the Chair, and John Marks, Esq., being 
moved thereto, the thanks of the Meeting were given to Mr. Sheriff 
for his very able conduct in the Chair. 

Francis M. Hill, Secretary. 

If there be one town in Her Majesty's dominions more loyal than 
another, it assuredly is Kingston. Not for the hour is she loyal ; her 
course has been steady and unwavering from her first foundation. She 
has always been essentially a British town, and disloyalty could never 
thrive within her precincts. Many attempts have been made by cor- 
rupt journalists to poison the minds of her people, but they have 
invariably been attended with signal discomfiture. The Midland- 
district generally is firm to its allegiance, and the impressions partially 
created by Bidwell, Perry, Roblin, &c, now that they are ousted from 
the representation, and have consequently " retired for the present into 
private life" are fast wearing away. The noise and din of dema- 
gogueism having subsided, and its foggy mystifications having become 
dispersed, the ears of the people can discriminate between sterling 
sense and empty sound ; and their vision mark justly the difference 
between the solid, peaceful advantages of a paternal and fixed mo- 
narchy, and the visionary phantoms, the unrealizable promises of 
uproarious, ever- changing democracy. The horror felt in Upper 
Canada at the course pursued by the Papineau rebellious faction, is 
nearly universal ; and should the services of Volunteers be required 
to assist their British brethren in the Lower Province to chastise their 
insolent presumption, restrain their malignity, and quash their rebel- 
lious spirit, there will be no lack of ardour to respond to the first call. 

An address has been forwarded from Kington to His Excellency, 
founded on the foregoing resolutions, to which his Excellency has 
been pleased to make the following reply : 

Government-house, 

Toronto, Nov. 9th, 1837. 

Sir,— Having had the honour to lay before His Excellency the 

L 3 



226 CANADA. 

the Province as any one in it, would not have believed 
that Mackenzie could have had the folly, or Bid well 
the madness to have connected himself with any 
overt act. 

The first time at which I recollect anything which 
led me to think that Papineau's schemes were making 
head in the Upper Province was in the fall or latter 
autumn of 1886, when I was returning from Pene- 
tangueshene with a French Canadian guide, and 
had reached Lount the blacksmith's house, on the 
Yonge-street road, about thirty-five miles from Toronto. 

Lieutenant-governor your letter of 4th instant, transmitting a series 
of Resolutions adopted by a meeting of the inhabitants of Kingston, 
held at the Court-house on Thursday, 2nd of November, 1837, I am 
commanded by His Excellency to express to you the satisfaction with 
which he receives from so large and respectable a meeting this public 
proof that the confidence which His Excellency has manifested in the 
people of Upper Canada has not been misplaced. 

His Excellency cannot but admire the zealous determination 
evinced by so numerous and respectable a Meeting to maintain in the 
Canadas, and to transmit to posterity, the mild, inestimable blessings 
of the British Constitution. His Excellency, however, knowing that 
that Constitution most jealously interdicts the creation by the 
Executive of any military force whatsoever, which has not been 
especially authorized by Parliament, desires me to observe to you, 
that he could not, without the concurrence of the Provincial Legis- 
lature, sanction for any purpose the formation of a Volunteer- corps. 

The Lieutenant-governor desires me to express his full confidence 
that the loyal town of Kingston will cordially join His Excellency in 
encouraging the inhabitants of this province to look to no other force 
for protection but the established Militia of Upper Canada, who, 
whenever the moment for demanding their services shall arrive, will, 
His Excellency is persuaded, be found ready to maintain inviolate the 
British Constitution, which they have already so nobly defended. 
I have the honour to be, Sir, 

Your most obedient, humble Servant, 

(Signed) J. Joseph. 

Richard Bullock, Esq., Sheriff of the M. D. U C. 



CANADA. 227 

Some trifling accident had occurred to the wagon in 
which I was proceeding, and the guide stopped there 
to remedy it. He and I were both assailed by the 
blacksmith's sons, who vituperated us as Tories, and 
thought it a grievous sin that I, an army officer, should 
have such a luxury as a country wagon on wooden 
springs to ride in, whilst they were obliged to work. 
This grievous luxury of a Canadian country wagon 
has perhaps been experienced by some of my readers; 
suffice it that, unless for speed, a good English broad- 
wheeled one is a bed of down compared to it. They 
told us the time was coming when the rascally officers 
would have another kind of accommodation, and w T hen 
they would no longer revel in the fat of the land. 

I went afterwards to England with some dispatches, 
in May, 1837; and so little did the loyal people of 
Upper Canada then dream of any rebellion in their 
fine country, that my answers to the many questions 
put to me on the subject were chiefly confined to the 
state of Lower Canada, where it was then evident that 
serious measures were in embryo. 

I returned on the 30th of August in the same year ; 
still no very visible signs of any movement on the 
part of Mackenzie, whose bark appeared much more 
dangerous than his bite ; and it was not until the latter 
end of October, or just before I left Toronto for 
Kingston, that I became seriously convinced of his 
designs. 

The aide-de-camp of Sir Francis Head had been 
insulted whilst riding on the Yonge-street road, out- 
side of the city. A flag had been stolen from the 
signal-post, on my premises, and I, in common with 



228 CANADA. 

other Government officers, had been continually in- 
formed by loyalist farmers on the same Yonge-street 
road that parties of men were drilling at night about 
Montgomery's Tavern, four miles from the city, and 
at another place near Lount's farm, at Lloyd's Town, 
&c. The behaviour, too, of • several members of the 
House of Assembly showed a confidence of being 
able to punish their opponents, and altogether the 
signs of the times were ominous. 

Applications from loyalists for Union -jacks were 
made for places near the main scene of the rebel 
action; and it was evident that if collision should take 
place, the loyalty of the people was generally to be 
depended on ; but still no one knew the exact state of 
things, so well had Mackenzie kept his secret, which, 
after all, he was the first to divulge prematurely. 

Sir Francis, who has been accused of resting inert, 
and of not crushing the rebellion in the bud, I verily 
believe thought as I, and as most other persons who 
knew the country did, that the revolutionary party 
was contemptible, both in energy and in means, and 
the results proved that they were ; for had it not been 
for the sympathy of the American borderers, the storm 
in Upper Canada was a mere bubble of froth and 
frenzy. 

Sir Francis, then, was right ; for although I do not 
entirely agree with that excellent man in some of his 
ulterior measures, yet I am convinced that, if he had 
not acted with the judgment, promptness, and deter- 
mination that he did, rivers of sympathizing blood 
would have flowed. 

The alarming state of things in Lower Canada, the 



CANADA. 229 

violent measures occurring in the State of Maine, and 
the evident transition from a friendly feeling along the 
borders of the St. Lawrence to a hostile one, deter- 
mined him ; and on being applied to by Sir John 
Colborne for military assistance, he at once and 
without hesitation sent every soldier, — except about 
twenty Artillerymen, who were left at Kingston, 
Toronto, Niagara, and Amherstburgh, — to Montreal. 

Papineau awoke from his golden dream of Empire. 
The lictors, with their fasces round his throne, fled, 
and were broken; and he put me in mind of the 
story of a Yankee, Giles Jolt, who having sympathized 
to a certain extent with the yellow radiance and 
sweets of a bottle of " rale Jamaky," over which he had 
been, like a second Alnaschar, counting up the gains 
to be derived from certain wooden nutmegs and deal 
pumpkin-seeds, with which he was about to " pedlar " 
a little amongst the simple Canadians, found himself 
overcome with and borne down by spiritual grief, and 
staggering to the door late on a dark night, comfort- 
ably seated himself in his ox-cart and gave the usual go- 
a-head scream to the " critturs." Vain were the words, 
vain the application of the whip. " Why I swan/' 
says the Yankee, t€ it beats all natur ; tarnal hides, 
why don't ye stretch out ? Old Patience is setting up 
for me, and burst your barrels, wont ye budge V 9 
After many fruitless admonitions and sundry strange 
oaths, the pedlar found his oxen were anywhere but 
where they should have been, for some friend, more 
cute than he, had stolen them. Day at length broke, 
and with Aurora Jonathan's wits slowly broke forth 
also, and he began to rub his eyes and reason thus : 



230 CANADA. 

" Now if I 'hi the genu-wine, rael, Erastes Corncob, 
darn it, I 've lost my team, but if I 'm any other 
fellow in all creation, I 've found a cart/"' 

Papineau found a cart, for he very soon decamped 
and left his team with anybody that chose to drive it. 
In fact, he took refuge in that country where Papi- 
neaus were then at a premium, leaving his native 
soil where they were just then at a discount. 

It is but justice, however, to this patriot to say that 
he had previously and personally defied the Govern- 
ment, and had completely thrown off the mask, so 
that Lord Gosford had been obliged to dismiss him from 
his public offices with eighteen other magistrates and 
thirty-five militia officers. Papineau, as already 
stated, wrote to the Secretary a most violent, con- 
temptuous, and insulting letter, which had thrown the 
country into a ferment. The laws could no longer 
be administered with impartiality, and the French 
Jurymen, who generally could neither read nor write, 
forgot their oaths and acquitted or condemned the 
Loyalists just as it suited their purposes. In the 
district bordering on the Ottawa, called the Lake of 
the Two Mountains, the Magistrates were set aside 
and the people had appointed Justices of the Peace, 
Militia Officers, and an emporium of their own; 
those who had been dismissed by the Governor-general, 
for taking part with the Sons of Liberty, were restored 
by the populace, and a Proclamation had been issued 
in which Papineau had declared that " all ties were 
severed with an unfeeling Mother country, and that 
the glorious fate of disenthralling their native soil 
from all authority, except that of the brave democratic 



CANADA. 231 

spirit residing in it, awaited the young men of all 
the Colonies/' 

There was a great deal more of the usual claptrap 
about fighting for life and liberty, and it ended by an 
open, active, and extensive training of the peasantry 
to arms, — so that in that district, above-named, the 
British rule had entirely ceased even before the out- 
break at Montreal : and at a convention of six 
counties adjacent to the St. Lawrence, the Richelieu, 
and the Yamaska Rivers, the most threatening and 
violent appeals to- the people had been made, and 
Papineau declared the Chief of the proposed Republic, 
whilst an address was printed and circulated through- 
out Lower Canada, calling on the enfans du sol, to 
be prepared as a man to support with effect, all 
attempts to deprive them of the prospect of enfran- 
chisement. 

It was now the duty of Lord Gosford to take 
energetic measures ; the loyal people had been driven 
from their farms, or compelled outwardly to subscribe 
to treasonable acts, and it would no longer do to trifle 
with Papineau. Accordingly two Regiments of the 
Line, the 83rd and the 85th, were sent for from 
Nova Scotia; and Sir Prancis Head sent the two 
Companies of Artillery, the 24th and the 66th Regi- 
ments, being the whole of the military force in Upper 
Canada, to the assistance of Commander-in-chief, Sir 
John Colborne; and the loyal inhabitants of Quebec, 
Montreal, the Eastern Townships, and everywhere 
throughout Lower Canada, embodied themselves as 
Volunteers, to preserve the peace and support the 
Queen and her Government. 



232 CANADA. 

Amidst all this preparation, the Revolutionists were 
most active in the immediate vicinity of Montreal. 
But the Roman Catholic Bishop of that Diocese pub- 
lished a "Pastoral Letter," exhorting all Canadians 
to withdraw from any connection with the disturbers 
of the public welfare; whilst the clergy, generally 
throughout the province, took an energetic and firm 
stand against Papineau and his rebel followers. 

But matters had gone too far for the followers of 
Papineau, or for him, to recede, and at length Lord 
Gosford ordered warrants to be issued to attach Louis 
Joseph Papineau, and twenty-five of his chiefs for high 
treason. The rebellion now broke out in earnest ; and 
the armed peasantry appeared ready to rescue their 
leaders everywhere, so that nine only at first were 
apprehended. 

The first actual attack upon the military happened 
on the 7th November, 1837. The Custom-house at 
St. John's having been threatened, Captain Glasgow, 
of the Royal Artillery, with fourteen or fifteen of the 
Montreal Volunteer Cavalry, was directed to patrol 
the road, in its vicinage. He was attacked by a 
very large band of armed men at St. Athanase, and 
ordered to retire ; but he resolutely kept possession of 
the bridge over the river, until reinforced by a com- 
pany of the line. 

On the 10th November, M. Demarais, the post- 
master of St. John's, and M. Davignon, a doctor, 
having been arrested for treason, were conveyed by a 
detachment of Volunteer Cavalry towards Montreal ; 
but near Longueil, the armed peasantry, three hun- 
dred, opened a heavy fire from the fences lining the 



CANADA. 233 

road, wounded several officers and troopers,* and res- 
cued the prisoners. 

On the 11th, Colonel Wetherall, of the Royal 
Regiment, with four companies, two field pieces, and 
some Volunteer Cavalry, scoured the whole country, 
from Longueil to Chambly, dispersed several armed 
bands, and took seven prisoners, meeting with no 
serious obstacles but the state of the roads. 

Assemblages of the peasantry on the banks of the 
Richelieu now took place, principally at St. Charles 
and St. Denis. At the former place they seized 
upon the chateau or mansion of Monsieur Debartzch, 
Seigneur or Lord of the Manor, who had withdrawn 
himself from Papineau, and had adhered to, and 
supported Lord Gosford's administration. He was 
obliged to fly from his recent friends on horseback, 
to save his life. General Brown, the Rebel leader, 
regaled his great army of 1,400 men with the Seig- 
neurs beef and mutton, and converted his house into 
a fortress, by cutting down the trees of his manor. 

At St. Denis, the house and distillery of Dr. 
Wolfred Nelson was similarly fortified, by his own 
consent, however, as Commander-in-chief, and 1,500 
rebels appeared there in arms. 

Numerous arrests continued to be made in Lower 
Canada. It would be useless now to give lists of the 
French Canadian leaders or their followers, who were 
arrested during the troubles, and it only remains to 
repeat that the conduct of these infatuated people was 

* Lieut. Ermatinger, Mr. Sharp, Mr. John P. Ashton, Mr. John 
Molson, Jun., and Mr. J. Woodhouse. 



234 CANADA. 

strongly contrasted with that of the Roman Catholic 
Clergy, and that of the Old French families, as well 
as a very large proportion of the habitans or peasantry ; 
whilst it is now known that several of the persons 
arrested had been made mere tools of, and did not 
intend to go the lengths of those under whose advice 
they had acted. 

Papineau, the hero of the drama, had in gloriously 
fled with General Thomas Storrow Brown, and 
General Nelson ; and Sir John Colborne having 
received information that these Chiefs of the In- 
surgents had taken up a position in the heart of 
the disaffected counties, on the Richelieu, lost no time 
in preparations (although the season of rains, and 
snows, and frosts, had set in), to dislodge them. 

Montreal had now a respectable and increasing 
Volunteer force organizing or organized, which left 
the Commander-in-chief at liberty to employ the few 
regular troops to better advantage then in garrisoning 
an open town. 

Sir John Colbourne made Montreal the head- 
quarters and centre of operations, and with only the 
scanty regular force I have already noticed at his 
command, prepared to move from this point, which 
was nearly in the middle of the Insurgent District, 
upon any place which should require attack or 
support.* 

* The following is a statement of the population of this important 
city, according to the last census at that time (1837) : 

Natives of England 2,994 

Natives of Ireland 8,839 

Natives of Scotland 2,645 



CANADA. 235 

Accordingly, finding that St. Charles and St. 
Denis, two large Canadian villages on the Richelieu, 
well situated, and capable of holding the line of com- 
munication between the St. Lawrence and the United 
States, were occupied by the rebels, he directed a 
simultaneous movement upon them from opposite 
quarters, — Sorel, at the mouth of the river Richelieu, 
and Chambly, about half-way along its course from the 
frontier cf the United States. These separate expedi- 
tions w r ere entrusted to the Deputy Quartermaster- 
general, Colonel the Honourable C. Gore, and to 
Lieutenant-colonel Wetherall, commanding the Royals. 

Colonel Gore was ordered to embark on board the 
St. George steamboat, at Montreal, to land at Sorel, 
and to march upon St. Denis from Sorel, with two 
companies of the 24th, one of the 32nd, two 
guns and a howitzer of the Royal Artillery, with a 
small party of the Montreal Volunteer Dragoons. 
Lieutenant-colonel Wetherall was directed to move 
down the river with four companies of the Royals, 
a detachment of the 66th, and two field-pieces, upon 
St. Charles, accompanied by two Magistrates, to 
legalize the arrests which were directed to be made 
of the chiefs of the revolt. 

St. Denis is seven miles nearer the St. LawTence 



Natives of Canada of French origin. . . . 16,999 

Natives of Canada of British origin. . . . 7,411 

Natives of the Continent of Europe. . . . 184 

Natives of the United States 513 

Aliens 462 

40,047' 

In 1851 50,000 -Editor. 



236 CANADA. 

than St. Charles, and is on the right bank of the river 
Richelieu, and sixteen miles from Sorel or William 
Henry, whilst St. Charles was a little more from 
Chambly. 

At ten o' clock, on the night of the 22nd of 
November, amidst incessant torrents of freezing rain, 
and up to their knees in the frozen mud, the troops 
under Colonel Gore, who was accompanied by 
Lieutenant-colonel Hughes, commanding the 24th, 
and two companies of the 66th, from Sorel, moved 
by a back road on St. Denis, in order to check the 
rebels, who were posted strongly at the intermediate 
village of St. Ours, and to avoid several bridges. 
Such was the state of the country from the condition 
of the climate at that advanced season, that the 
march occupied eleven hours and a half, or not quite 
a mile and a half an hour ; and the mud was so deep 
and tenacious that it pulled off continually the men's 
boots and mocassins, whilst the cavalry were employed 
in driving away working parties, who had destroyed 
six bridges, and were destroying another ; these 
bridges had therefore to be repaired, before the gun 
could be got over the small gullies and streams. 
They arrived before St. Denis at half-past nine on the 
morning of the 23rd, exhausted and fatigued. As 
soon as they appeared, a heavy fire from the houses 
on the north-side of the village was opened upon 
them, whilst a large stone building, three stories high, 
was so strong and so well occupied, that the fire 
directed against it from the howitzer, commanded by 
Lieutenant Newcomen, of the Royal Artillery, made 
but little impression. Captain Markham, of the 



CANADA. 237 

32nd,* with his light company, however, dislodged 
the rebels from several of the houses in the village. 
Cornet Sweeny, of the Montreal Dragoons, was of 
essential service, by preventing the destruction of 
bridges, and securing early intelligence. 

The position chosen by the rebels was excellent, 
and the stone house was so well flanked by others, and 
so well barricaded, that all attempts to carry it failed ; 
whilst the communication with the opposite bank of 
the river being open to the enemy, they were con- 
tinually reinforced; but their loss was severe, and 
amongst the slain was M. Ovide Perrault, a member 
of the House of Assembly. The brave Captain 
Markham was severely wounded in three places, whilst 
taking possession of a fortified house opposite to the 
stone building, at the point of the bayonet; and at 
length the order was given to retreat. 

Colonel Gore retired upon St. Ours, where he 
expected to meet the steamboat Varennes with sup- 
plies; but she had been intercepted. The howitzer 
was abandoned and spiked, after seven hours of toil 
to get it on, and the troops returned to Sorel on the 
morning of the 24th, at eleven o'clock, after having 
found that the steamboat Varennes, which was to 
take the troops, had been fired at from St. Ours, and 
obliged to put back. One officer was severely 
wounded; 1 sergeant and 2 men of the 24th, 
2 men of the 32nd, and 1 of the 66th, killed, 
9 soldiers wounded, and 6 missing. This was the 
first reverse. 

* Recently highly distinguished in India, now commanding the 
32nd, and a Companion of the Bath. — Editor. 



238 CANADA. 

The detachment under Lieutenant-colonel Wetherall 
was more fortunate. He marched from Chambly, and 
crossing the upper ferry also found the roads in the 
worst possible condition, so that he halted at St. 
Hilaire, and sent back to Chambly for another com- 
pany of the Royals, dispatching an officer of the 
Montreal Cavalry for further orders from head- quar- 
ters; but his messenger not having been able to 
return before nine o'clock on the morning of the 
26th of November, and having heard that the basin at 
Chambly had been frozen over, and every possibility 
arising of his retreat being cut off in that case, he 
moved boldly on until he arrived within a mile of 
St. Charles, when his advance was momentarily 
cheeked by a fire from the left bank of the Richelieu — 
by which a soldier of the Royals was wounded — and 
from a barn immediately in his front. The barn was 
carried, and burnt. On reaching to within two hun- 
dred and fifty yards of the rebel position, he found 
it a stockaded work, strongly occupied, and from 
which a heavy and continued fire was opened upon 
his force from two field guns and musketry. Lieu- 
tenant-colonel Wetherall, after making breaches in 
the pallisading, immediately ordered the position to 
be stormed, which was effected in gallant style, and 
every house burned, excepting the one which belonged 
to Mr. Debartzch. 

In this spirited affair, which occupied an hour, the 
Royal Artillery, under Captain Glasgow, did their duty 
nobly; and Major Warde, of the Royals, carried the 
left of the enemy's line of works at the bayonet's 
point, whilst the brave Montreal Cavalry, under 



CANADA. 239 

Captain David, conspicuously distinguished them- 
selves. 

The loss of the troops was 1 sergeant of the 
Royals, 2 soldiers of the Royal and 66th Regiments 
killed, and 18 men wounded, whilst the rebels suffered 
very severely, between 200 and 300 having been 
killed, but only 16 prisoners * were made. Lieutenant- 
colonel Wetherall stated in his report that he counted 
56 dead bodies left on the field, and that many more 
were destroyed in the burning houses. f 

It is stated by Colonel Gore that the loss of the 
rebels, in his operation against St. Denis, was 100, and 
that their force there was supposed to be near 3,000, 
but certainly 1,500. 

Lieutenant -colonel Wetherall does not state the 
amount of the force opposed to him; but Sir John 
Colborne, in his dispatch, observed that the enclosed 
work was defended by 1,500 men. 

Lieutenant-colonel Wetherall returned to Chambly 
on the 28th, having first visited Point Olivier, where a 
large body of the peasantry, under Samere, were 
assembled to cut off his retreat. Here he met them 
once more, and they had formed an entrenchment 
with abattis, and had two guns mounted on carts. 
They fled immediately, and he arrived at his station 
with twenty-five prisoners. 

The Commander-in-chief, determined to crush the 
rebellion in the bud, again directed Colonel Gore to 

* Between thirty and forty were, however, afterwards secured, 

f At St. Charles a liberty-pole was set up, with the Cap of Liberty, 

and a tablet, inscribed " a Papineau par ses concitoyens reconnais- 

sans ! ' ' 



240 CANADA. 

leave Montreal for Sorel with eight companies and 
three field-pieces, for an attack on St. Denis. That 
officer reached St. Denis on the 2nd of December, 1837, 
with one company of the 24th, four of the 32nd, two 
of the 66th, and one of the 83rd, and three guns, but 
found it had been abandoned. Here he ordered 
General Wolfred Nelson's house to be destroyed, as 
well as the fortified stone-house and all the defences, 
and leaving Major Reid, of the 32nd, to garrison the 
place with three companies and a gun, he moved on 
with the other five and two guns, on the 4th of 
December, to St. Charles, whence he marched on St. 
Hyacinthe, in hopes of taking Monsieur Papineau, 
whose head-quarters there were duly searched ; but the 
bird had flown. Having secured, by competent de- 
tachments, St. Charles, St. Denis, and St. Ours, he 
returned to Sorel on the 7th, having recovered the 
howitzer which had been abandoned on the former 
expedition, and one iron gun and a quantity of ammu- 
nition, which the rebels had left behind them at St. 
Denis, were destroyed. 

Sir John Colborne now directed Lieutenant-colonel 
Hughes, of the 24th, with ten companies, to attack a 
large body of rebels which had taken post at St. 
Amand, and had invaded Canada from Swanton, in the 
United States, under the command, as it was said, of 
Bouchette and Gagnon. 

The Loyal Volunteers, of the Missisquoi settlement, 
which is on that frontier, had very cleverly settled the 
business before he could march from St. John's, and 
had completely routed and dispersed them.* 

* In honour to the loyal Militia of Lower Canada, — of their brave 



CANADA. 241 

Amongst the prisoners taken at St. Charles, were 
M. Duvert, a notary; Durocher, a merchant, and his 
clerk Lemaire ; and C. Drolet, R. Desrivieres, and Dr. 
Beaubien. Papineau crossed the river to St. Marc 
just as the troops appeared, and General Brown 
retreated soon afterwards. The two heavy guns taken 
were spiked and thrown into the Richelieu, and the 

conduct, particularly at Moore's Corner, when an attempt was made 
to lay waste the whole frontier near the north-west of the State of 
Vermont, I shall give the letter which was written on this occasion 
entire, as it will answer for a hundred other similar displays of British 
spirit on that frontier, where midnight burnings reddened the winters' 
sky for three years, so warm were the feelings of the borderers of 
Vermont towards their Canadian brethren : 

"Montreal, Dec. 20th, 1837. 

" Sir, — Colonel Knowlton and Captain Kemp, having reported to 
Sir John Colborne, Commander of the Forces, the gallant conduct of 
the Militiamen of Caldwell's Manor, of the escort of the ShefFord 
Loyal Volunteers, and also of the Missisquoi Militiamen, in their 
decisive attack on the band of rebels, which they intercepted on its 
march near Mr. Hiram Moore's farm, His Excellency took the 
earliest opportunity of conveying through those officers, to all those 
loyal men, his cordial thanks for the important services which they 
have rendered to Her Majesty and to all her faithful subjects in this 
province. 

" His Excellency now desires you will accept his sincere thanks for 
the prominent part taken by yourself and the loyalists under your 
immediate direction on that occasion ; and I have it likewise in com- 
mand to assure you, that he will not fail to communicate to Her 
Majesty's Government how much we are all indebted to the prompt 
movement and combined energies of the loyal men who defeated and 
dispersed the rebels in that successful affair, and thus frustrated their 
daring design of laying waste the country on their route to the 
Richelieu. 

" I have &c, 
"W. P. CHRISTIE, Provincial Military Secretary. 

"P, H. Moore, Esq., 

" Bedford, Stanbridge." 

VOL. I. M 



242 CANADA. 

fortified house was found excellently supplied with 
provision, mostly plunder from the owner. 

Soon afterwards M. C. S. Cherrier and M. Toussaint 
Peltier were arrested; and warrants against E. Knight, 
who had absconded, and others of note, were sent out. 

Two thousand Volunteers had been armed and equip- 
ped at Montreal; and Colonel Jones of Missisquoi, 
had embodied his corps of Militia and Volunteers, to 
guard the Vermont frontier at Bedford, — which, as 
already noticed, he did most effectually. 

Colonels D. Macdonell, Fraser, Chisholm, and A. 
Macdonell, volunteered, with regiments of Highlanders 
from Glengarry, to march at any moment into Lower 
Canada ; as did Colonel Reade of the Leeds Regiment, 
Colonel Burritt of the Grenville Militia, Captain Graham 
of the Perth Volunteer Artillery ; and, in short, every 
Militia corps bordering on or near the boundary be- 
tween the provinces. 

Sir John Colborne now turned his attention to the 
proceedings of the rebel chiefs on the north side of 
Montreal; and on the 13th of December marched on 
St. Eustache, with his whole disposable force, to put 
down the revolt in the Grand Brule, in the district 
of the Lake of the Two Mountains, under Chenier and 
Girod. He reached St. Eustache on the 14th, and found 
1,200 men in possession, under the leaders named above; 
with Scott, Girouard, and De Maichelle or Dumouchelle, 
who were the chiefs of the revolted district. 

Before we proceed to give a sketch of the different 
affairs, we shall revert a little to the leading characters 
of this foolish rebellion. 

Papineau having deserted, the command of the rebel 



CANADA. 243 

forces on the Richelieu devolved upon Generals Brown, 
Wolfred Nelson, and Desrivieres ; that of the invasion 
from S want on we have seen was under the direction 
of Bouchette and Gagnon. 

The operations of Colonel Gore, and the march of 
Lieutenant-colonel Wetherall, had paralyzed Papineau" s 
immediate leaders at St. Denis and St. Charles; and 
the loyal Militia and Volunteers of Missisquoi and 
Shefford settled the affair on the Vermont frontier, 
had defeated Bouchette and Gagnon, before they had 
crossed the frontier at St. Armand more than one mile, 
and had enabled Sir John Colborne to withdraw a large 
force from the post of observation at St. John's, and 
to carry his operations into the heart of the enemy's 
country, the very focus of rebellion. 

A most melancholy tale has here to be succinctly 
told. Lieutenant Weir, of the 32nd Regiment, had 
been sent on the 22nd of November from Montreal by 
land to Sorel, with despatches for the officer command- 
ing at that post, to co-operate with Colonel Gore with 
two companies of the 66th. The roads w r ere in such 
a state that this unfortunate gentleman (who travelled 
in a caleche) did not arrive at Sorel until soon after 
Colonel Gore had left it, having marched upon St. 
Charles, by the road of St. Denis, wdth his whole force. 
He forthwith hired another caleche, driven by a French 
Canadian, named La Vallee, and set off to join the 
troops. But he took the lower road, by mistake, in- 
stead of the upper one, which Colonel Gore had chosen 
to avoid St. Ours ; thus he passed the troops without 
seeing them, and got to St. Denis about seven in the 
Here Dr. Nelson ordered him to be made 
m2 



244 CANADA. 

prisoner, and immediately prepared to receive Colonel 
Gore's attack, — which he had not anticipated ; nor was 
St. Denis the object of the march, but St. Charles, for 
the arrest of some notorious rebel leaders. 

Lieutenant Weir was pinioned, and placed under 
charge of Captain Jalbert, two men named Migueault, 
another named Lecour, and a driver, a lad called 
Gustin, and hurried off in Dr. Nelson's waggon to 
St. Charles. When he had gone a short distance, the 
cords with which his arms were tied caused so much 
pain that he insisted on their being loosened ; and a 
dispute arose, which ended in his jumping out and 
getting under the waggon to avoid the blows aimed at 
him. He was then fired at twice with pistols and 
wounded severely in the groin and back, and numerous 
sabre-cuts were inflicted on his head and hands. In 
this state he was dragged from under the waggon, and 
butchered in the most barbarous manner with every 
instrument of destruction which could be employed, 
and his body thrown into the Richelieu and kept 
under the water by large stones. Here it was dis- 
covered by Lieutenant Griffin, 32nd ;* and having been 
examined by Dr. Mc Gregor, the Assistant-surgeon of 
the Regiment, was carefully removed to Montreal for 
interment, — where a public meeting was held to, express 
detestation of the deed and to raise a monument to 
his memory. 

A loyal French Canadian, Chartrand (a volunteer of 
St. John's), was murdered also in the most cold- 
blooded manner ; and it will scarcely be credited that 

* Now the very efficient Deputy Assistant Adjutant-general at 
Montreal. — Editor. 



CANADA. 245 

Jalbert escaped, and that the murderers were invariably- 
acquitted by juries of their countrymen, although the 
clearest evidence appeared to convict them. 

Dr. Wolfred Nelson was fully exonerated, by the evi- 
dence and journals of the day, from participating in the 
barbarous treatment of Lieutenant Weir, to whom he 
had shown kindness and was removing to a place of 
safety; he was also very kind to three or four 
wounded men, who were taken prisoners at St. Denis. 

We have spoken much of Monsieur Papineau ; who 
was, however, very little spoken of in Canada after 
he decamped. Let us now see who the other chiefs 
of the conspiracy were. 

Dr. Robert Nelson,* — who published a proclamation, 
declaring Canada a Republic, — first opened the eyes of 
the French Canadians as to what they might expect 
from the sympathy of the United States. He gave no 
hopes of support to the Roman Catholic religion ; he 
declared that all the feudal nonsense must for ever be 
put a stop to; and he, in fact, asserted just what 
Brother Jonathan would have asserted had he entered 
Canada en conquer ant. 

Dr. Wolfred Nelson was by nature fitted for better 
things u than treason, stratagems, and spoils." In 
person he was the best-looking of the rebels, tall, with 
marked features, and rather distingue ; whilst he pos- 
sessed a brave, manly disposition, and had not that 
spiteful, unforgiving revenge which made some of the 
others so very hateful. He was the son of a respect- 
able Englishman, who had kept a school at William 
Henry; and being of a lively intelligent disposition, and 

* Brother of Dr. Wolfred Nelson. 



246 CANADA. 

having married a French Canadian, Wolfred Nelson 
settled at St. Charles, — where he was looked up to as 
the support and prime-mover of the factions. Here he 
possessed a large distillery ; and here, early in October, 
1837, he presided at a meeting, — when the Delegates 
from six counties bound themselves solemnly to wage war 
for the overthrow of the British dominion, and invited 
the soldiers of the Queen to desert and join their colours. 

Made the Generalissimo of Papineau's forces, Nel- 
son (bearing a name which ought to have taught him 
that England ' ■ Expects every man to do his duty w to 
his Sovereign) — he was carried away by false promises, 
by vanity, and by ambition, until he finished his 
career of folly and disappointment in the jail at Mon- 
treal ; — a warning and a lesson to all who attempt to 
rule the peasantry of a peaceable country subservient 
to their passion for renown. He, with all his faults, 
was the best of the soi-disant Generals of the Canadian 
Army of Liberation. I am sorry I have not kept more 
than one of the absurd Proclamations of Dr. R. Nelson, 
they would have been episodes in his history ; but I 
shall hereafter give that, declaring the New Canadian 
Republic to be " one and indivisible.^ 

General Brown was a totally different character. 
He was of Nova Scotian (?) birth ; and having tried 
various ways of going ahead, he was unfortunate in 
business, just before he appeared invested with Papi- 
neau's truncheon as another general. 

Finding St. Denis and St. Charles, and other affairs, 
rather hotter work than pedling, he, to use an Ameri- 
canism, bunked, or, in other words, cut the concern; 
and it is said afterwards figured in Florida. 



CANADA. 247 

Another adventurer who held a command in the 
patriot cause, was the son of a most worthy man, 
who held one of the most respectable offices under 
Government in Lower Canada, was Colonel of Militia 
for a long series of years, and whose loyalty and 
faith have never been questioned. His son was, I 
think, a lawyer in respectable circumstances; but, 
like many other young Canadians, forgot that his 
family had owed their all to the British Govern- 
ment, and, carried away by false prophets, he sacri- 
ficed all for his country as he thought, — not perhaps 
reflecting that his country would be much more likely 
to suffer than to gain* by such a course. He was evi- 
dently a victim of Papineau's. He was wounded at 
Missisquoi, lodged in prison, and banished afterwards. 

General Scott, who commanded at St. Eustache, 
was a shopkeeper* in that village, and the son of a 
baker at Montreal. He had been nominated chef 
with Girouard, for the county of the Lake of the 
Two Mountains ; but was found utterly inadequate. 
His confrere Girouard (an ex-M. P. P., who afterwards 
made such a stir in Canada, from having had office 
proffered him) was a tall, dark-featured man, with black 
hair and eyes, and was a notary. He felt himself 
also inadequate to undertake military operations, and 
from the answer which he gave declining office, 
was aware of the public opinion respecting him, 
having been well known as a thorough-going Revo- 
lutionist, who desired nothing less than the Repub- 
lique Canadienne. 

He was taken prisoner after the defeat at Grand 
Brule, a reward of £500 having been offered for him, 



248 CANADA. 

in consequence of some seditious declamations he had 
made, as well as that he was truly the great cause of 
the rebellious acts in the districts north of Montreal. 
He and Scott were taken together, and confined in the 
jail at Montreal; from which he was subsequently 
released and pardoned. 

Dumouchelle was a respectable and affluent mer- 
chant and land-owner of St. Benoit, of whom little 
is known. He was old, and one of those infatuated 
men, who could see nothing beyond the probabilities 
of being a noted Republican leader. 

Girod, an unhappy Swiss adventurer, had figured 
in two or three of the South American Revolu- 
tionary wars, and was coming into notice from a 
proposed scheme to advance Canadian farming ; which 
not meeting encouragement, he headed the rebels at 
Grand Brule, and flying from them w T hen a price was 
put on his head, ended his existence by suicide. His 
career appears to have been one of singular folly, 
he affected the style and equipage of dictator, and 
Generalissimo, and, from his South American notions 
he loved to appear in buccaneer style, and on horse- 
back ; a fine gray mare was his charger, and this was 
stolen from Monsieur Dumont, a loyal Canadian. Of 
Desrivieres and Gagnon there is less to say; for 
although they stepped out in the ranks of the Patriots' 
forces to lead, they were comparatively insignificant 
and unheeded. 

But there were many others who, without such 
prominent military enthusiasm, were not less active in 
the revolt. Of these, Dr. O'Callaghan, the editor of 
the Vindicator, an Irish Canadian Republican paper; 



CANADA. 249 

Viger, a lawyer of Quebec ; Dr. Cote, the President 
of the Convention of I/Acadie ; and two or threee legal 
gentlemen, were the most conspicuous. Dr. O'Cal- 
laghan fled with Papineau, as also did a clever man, 
who had studied English, and who had distinguished 
himself like Mackenzie, by ostentatiously displaying 
the tri-coloured emblem before the Governor-general ; 
and another, the nephew of Papineau, who was one of 
the most clever young lawyers in Lower Canada. 
Louis Viger, was brother to Denis B. Viger, the gen- 
tleman deputed to detail the grievances of the ninety- 
two Resolutions to the Colonial-office, was also a clever 
but an older lawyer, and a person of much consequence, 
both from his talents and his address, and President of 
the bank of the people ; he was afterwards confined in 
jail for fifteen months. Viger is a clever man, with a 
bright keen eye, aquiline nose, and drooping lip, and 
is very active and bustling in his habits. The year 
1837, closed, in Lower Canada, by the events I am 
now engaged in relating. 

Sir John Colbourne, after detaching Major Towns- 
end with a part of the 24th, and the Volunteers of 
St. Andrews to St. Benoit, moved upon St. Eustache, 
and crossed the North Branch of the Ottawa, near 
St. Rose, on the 14th December, three miles below 
the village, with two brigades, and six field pieces ; 
the Montreal Volunteer Cavalry, and the Montreal 
Rifle Corps, sending Captain Globinsky, with his 
Volunteer Militia to skirmish. 

Colonel Mainland's brigade, consisting of the 32nd 
and 83rd, with the Montreal Cavalry, followed by Lieu- 
tenant-colonel WetheralPs brigade (the 2nd Battalion 

m3 



250 CANADA. 

of the Royal Regiment, the Royal Montreal Rifles, and 
Globinsky's Volunteers) advanced to the attack, with 
Major Jackson, and the Royal Artillery under his 
orders. 

Girod, who had the chief command, opened his fire 
from the houses of the town, which was soon silenced, 
and he fled ; and Major Jackson, taking up a position 
in front of the fortified church and houses, and the 
advanced parties of the 32nd, 83rd, and Rifle Corps 
having cleared the houses and walls, he battered the 
church and adjoining buildings. The church, crowded 
with people, was soon rendered untenable ; and a scene 
of slaughter ensued which may be readily imagined, 
when it is known that the rebels were completely 
surrounded from the able and cool measures adopted 
by the Commander-in-chief. The church and houses, 
including the presbytere or priest's house, and the 
nunnery, and those of Scott and Dr. Chenier, the 
rebel leaders, were on fire, and those who could not 
escape fell a prey to the flames. After an hour's firing, 
at 280 yards distance, and continued volleys of mus- 
ketry from the Royals and Riflemen in the neigh- 
bouring houses, and that owing to the determined 
resistance made there and in the seignior's house, it 
was necessary to dssault and carry the church and 
presbytery by the bayonet. 

In this action, — the most determined of the whole 
rebellion, — the troops lost 1 private killed, 1 corporal, 
and 7 wounded, whilst Major Gugy, the provincial 
aide-de-camp, received a severe wound whilst engaged 
in a storming party; 118 prisoners were made, — 
but the number of killed and wounded of the enemy 



CANADA. 251 

was never ascertained, but must have been enormous. 
Amongst the killed was Dr. J. 0. Chenier, who was 
found dead in the yard of the church. F. Peltier fled 
with Girod. 

Lieutenant- colonel Eden, Deputy Adjutant-general, 
Colonel Gore, Deputy Quartermaster-general, the 
personal staff, Majors Jackson and Macbean of the 
Royal Artillery, and Captain Foster of the Royal 
Engineers, received the honour of a most favourable 
mention of their services in the despatch to the Horse- 
guards ; and the Volunteers of Montreal having taken 
the garrison duty of that city, and thus enabled Sir 
John Colborne to quell this rebellious district, were 
most honourably noticed. 

The remainder of the rebel army, and the village 
of St. Benoit, surrendered. All the leaders fled ; Sir 
John Colborne, after taking up his head-quarters at 
the house of Girouard (where papers, containing lists 
of the leaders, &c, were found,) returned to Montreal : 
and thus ended the melancholy drama of the Grand 
Brule. 

Lieutenant-colonel Wetherall of the Royal, Major 
Reid of the 32nd, Lieutenant-colonel the Honourable H. 
Dundas of the 83rd, Major Warde of the Royal, Cap- 
tain Howell of the Royal Artillery, Lieutenant Ormsby 
of the Royal, were all distinguished and prominent actors 
in these scenes ; and nothing could exceed the steadi- 
ness and good conduct of the Montreal Cavalry, the 
Montreal Rifles, and Globinsky's Volunteers, or of the 
Militia aide-de-camp Major Gugy.* 

* Afterwards Colonel and Adjutant-general of lvlilitia, a Memoer 
of Parliament, &c— Editor. 



252 CANADA. 

The rebel leader Scott had hid himself in a farm- 
house, five miles from the scene of action, and was 
taken by five gallant fellows of the Montreal Cavalry 
who went after him. 

Sir John Colborne, finding that his vigorous mea- 
sures had completely unhinged all Papineau's deep- 
laid measures, and that the peasantry were desirous to 
" unthread the rude web of rebellion " after his return 
to Montreal, immediately detached a portion of the 24th 
Regiment, under Major Townsend, to open the com- 
munication with Sir Francis Head in Upper Canada ; 
which was now the seat of the demonstration in favour 
of Papineau. 

The memorable year 1837 saw, amidst the snows of 
a Canadian winter, a population in arms for and against 
Monarchical Government; — Christmas-day beheld the 
Republican leaders almost everywhere fugitive, and 
the sympathizing American borderers at a loss whether 
they should or should not assist such a deplorable 
cause. 

Thus ended the year in Lower Canada. I must 
now speak of subjects relating to Upper Canada, 
with the details of which I am better acquainted, 
and shall therefore devote a chapter to the outbreak 
in that province, which although embracing only the 
events of three or four days in 1837, were to us, who 
were the army of four or five officers and twenty men, 
of the most intense interest. 



CANADA. 253 



NOTE. 

In concluding this chapter, I must in justice say 
that loyal meetings of many French Canadians were 
held at Quebec, Montreal, &c. The Roman Catholic 
clergy strenuously denounced the Rebellion, whilst 
all the influential Seigneurs supported the Government. 

The Citizens of American origin, resident in Montreal, 
also held a meeting expressive of their utter abhor- 
rence of the rebellion : and in fact, as before stated, the 
worst portion of the disaffected were to be found in the 
districts between the Yamaska and Richelieu Rivers ;* 
where something of a similar spirit had long displayed 
itself, and where, during the last American war, it is 
said the enemy had found means to seduce several 
persons from their allegiance, who had been conse- 
quently obliged, at its termination, to expatriate 
themselves. 

* As bad a portion of the disaffected was found at St. Eustache, 
Grand Brule, &c. — Editor. 



254 . CANADA. 



CHAPTER X. 

Rebellion in Upper Canada, in November and December, 1837. 

- ( Ye gentlemen of England who live at home at ease/' 
how little can you feel the situation in which your 
countrymen were placed in the winter of 1837, in 
Canada. 

I am writing this, full of the recollections of that 
year, in a house, which all my endeavours to keep the 
keen tooth of the wintry winds out of, fail in accom- 
plishing; here, on the 29th of March, we have the 
snow two feet deep, and the thermometer in the middle 
of the day, down to 25 degrees. Truly, therefore, shall 
I fancy myself, in 1837, again passing night after 
night in the depth of a northern arctic winter with- 
out rest, and in continual excitement, from the un- 
certain nature of the coming events, obliged to face 
the rigours of the sky at all hours, with 25 degrees 
below instead of above zero, often indicated by the 
heat-measurer. 

If I speak, therefore, gentle reader, con amove, and a 
little too much in the first person singular, pray set it 



CANADA. 255 

down to anything else than a desire to intrude myself 
personally on your attention, but with that unavoidable 
difficulty before you of separating an actor in a drama 
from the matter of the piece, I hope to find at least 
that I shall not overact my part. 

Voltaire begins his Romance of Charles the Twelfth, 
which was put into the hands of every boy in the Military 
College at Woolwich, and is therefore, of course, one of 
their reminiscences with " Sweden and Norway compose 
a kingdom," and he then talks of the crepuscule of the 
Semiramis du Nord, and in short opens his history 
with a paragraph, in which the rigours of a hyper- 
borean climate, its short twilight- day, and its inevitable 
inconveniences as a field of military action, are bravely 
depicted. I might do the same; for, although no 
admirer of Voltaire, my subject is very like his, as 
far as the mere field goes, though neither Papineau 
nor Bidwell were either Charles the Twelfths or Czar 
Peters, yet they were like those conquerors in one or 
two respects. 

Charles was called Demirbash, by the Turks, which 
signifies a man who fancies his head made of iron 
and that he may run a muck without any danger of 
having his skull split. Neither Bidwell nor Papineau 
calculated upon that contingency any more than 
Charles, but from vastly different motives. 

Peter and Charles both desired to make their names 
famous by founding a new empire, — so did Bidwell 
and Papineau. Here the comparison ceases ; for my 
early Woolwich friends, the Emperor and the King, 
did not decline fighting for renown, 



256 CANADA. 

We have seen that Sir Francis Head had taken 
the determined course of depriving himself of all the 
troops, and of placing his government entirely under 
the protection of the people. 

I was then at Toronto, having returned, as before 
stated, in August. September and October passed off 
quietly, as far as outward appearances went. The 
Lieutenant-governor had refused to place Bidwell on 
the Bench, and to restore Mr. Ridout to the situations 
of District-judge and Colonel of Militia. He had also 
remonstrated with the Home-government upon its 
non-compliance with his appointments of Mr. Hager- 
man and Mr. Draper as Attorney and Solicitor-general, 
whilst he had also disapproved of the Receiver-general, 
Mr. Dunn, being received (in which, however, the 
worthy Ex-governor was not au fait) at the Colonial- 
office, instead of Mr. Draper, a Special-messenger 
upon the Financial Difficulties of the Province, whom 
he had sent to England. 

He had published the Instructions of Lord Gosford 
and the Commissioners, he had dismissed or rather 
received the resignation of a New Council, desirous of 
responsible government, or, in fact, desirous of being 
Viceroys over him, and, differing entirely with the 
views of the Lower Canada Commissioners, had ten- 
dered his resignation a second time. 

Such was Sir Francis Bond Head's position when, 
in October, the Commander of the Forces, Sir John 
Colborne,* wrote to him for some troops, he sent 

* The answer of Sir Francis is worth preservation. Extracted 
from the papers laid "before Parliament, as follows : 



CANADA. 257 

all, and Sir John Colborne must then have had an 
equally strong reliance upon the loyalty of the Upper 

Sir F. Head's communication to Sir J. Colborne, making a full disclosure 
of his views in sending all the regular troops out of the Upper Province, 

" Toronto, Oct. 31, 1837. 

" Dear Sir John, — On the receipt of your dispatch of the 24th, 
which I received yesterday, I immediately begged Colonel Foster to 
carry your wishes into effect, by sending you down the 24th Regiment. 
Colonel Foster told me you were good enough to propose that a guard 
should be left for me and for the stores and commissariat, but I begged 
to give up my sentry and orderlies, and in fact to send you the whole 
of the 24th, which is stationed here. 

" I will now endeavour to explain to you the course of policy I am 
desirous to pursue. I am sure you will be of opinion that a great 
deal, if not the whole, of the agitation which is carried on in Lower 
Canada, is intended to have the immediate effect of intimidating the 
two Houses of Parliament in England, by making them believe that 
republicanism is indigenous to the soil of America, and that nothing 
else will grow there. 

" But Mr. Papineau knows quite well that this assertion will not 
be considered as proved unless Upper Canada joins in it, and accord- 
ingly Mr. Mackenzie and his gang, under his directions, are doing 
everything in their power here to get up anything that may be made 
to pass for agitation in the London market. 

" This province is, as far as my experience goes, more loyal and 
more tranquil than any part of England ; however, this does not 
matter to Mr. Mackenzie, provided he can get up a few sets of violent 
resolutions, which you know very well are easily effected. 

" Now, what I desire to do is completely to upset Mr. Papineau, so 
far as Upper Canada is concerned, by proving to the people in Eng- 
land that this province requires no troops at all, and consequently 
that it is perfectly tranquil. 

" I consider that this evidence will be of immense importance, as it 
at once shows the conduct of Lower Canada to be factious ; whereas, 
could it, under colour of a few Radical meetings here, be asserted 
that the two provinces were on the brink of revolution, it would, as 
you know, be argued as an excuse for granting the demands of 
Mr. Papineau. I consider it of immense importance, practically, 
to show to the Canadas that loyalty produces tranquillity, and that 
disloyalty not only brings troops into the province, but also produces 
civil war. 



258 CANADA. 

Canadians, for we find, in perusing the Narrative after- 
wards published by Sir Francis Head, that Sir John 

" To attain the object I have long had in view, I deemed it advisable 
not to retain, either for myself or for the stores, the few men we have 
been accustomed to require ; for I felt I could not completely throw 
myself, as I wished to do, on the inhabitants of the province so long 
as there remained troops in the garrison. 

" I cannot, of course, explain to you all the reasons I have for my 
conduct, but I can assure you that I have deeply reflected upon it, 
and well know the materials I have to deal with. 

" The detachment of artillery and the barrack- master, who, I under- 
stand, is to take up his quarters in the barracks, will be, I believe, 
sufficient to take care of the barrack stores. The arms I have put 
under the charge of the Mayor, which I am confident will arouse 
a very excellent feeling, which will immediately spread over the 
province. The military chest will be deposited for safe custody in the 
vaults of the Upper Canada Bank, where it will be much safer than 
in its present remote situation. 

" I inclose you a copy of a communication I have addressed to the 
Mayor, and also to Mr. Foote, which will explain the arrangements 
1 have made, for which I am quite prepared to take upon myself all 
the responsibility I have incurred. 

" I have now to ask you to assist me further in the policy I am 
pursuing, by removing the 24th Regiment from Kingston, so as to 
take them out of Upper Canada. I have not the slightest occasion 
for them, particularly in that direction, where all is nothing but 
loyalty ; but if they remain there, the moral I am desirous to attain 
will be spoiled ; for it will be argued in England that all which has 
been done in Upper Canada, is merely that the troops have been 
moved from the Midland to the Eastern district. I am afraid you 
may find difficulty in finding room for them in the Lower province ; 
but if, by any exertion, you can effect my wishes, I feel confident you 
will do so. 

" It is with reluctance I have incurred the responsibilities I have 
mentioned; I know the arrangements I have made are somewhat 
irregular, but I feel confident the advantages arising from them will 
be much greater than the disadvantages. 

" What I am about to do will arouse loyal feeling throughout the 
province, at a moment when it is of inestimable importance. 

" Colonel Foster will tell you that the detachment you have desired 



CANADA. 259 

requested also some companies of Militia, who should 
be engaged to serve for five months, observing, " If we 
do not immediately take active measures, to arm and 
organize our friends, the province will be lost." Sir 
Francis at first declined to afford the aid of the Upper 
Canada Militia; which, however, when affairs became 
more serious, marched by order of the Commander-in- 
Chief. 

I think that I cannot do better at this moment than 
to pause a little before entering upon the details of 
the insurrection in Upper Canada, particularly as we 
have now arrived at the end of the month of Novem- 
ber, 1837, and to give the reader a copy of a letter 
which I addressed at that moment to a friend in Eng- 
land, from Kingston, to which place I had been ordered 
as commanding Royal Engineer in Upper Canada, it 
being the only fortress in the country, and the depot 
of all Military stores, both de guerre et de bouche. 
Nothing that I could say now, after an interval of several 
years, from mere recollection, would give half the 
impression then upon my mind, at a moment of such 
excitement as that produced by the outbreak of the 
Lower Canadian French. Before, however, entering 
upon that subject, I shall give the reader a notification 
made at Toronto, by Sir Francis Head, which roused 
the loyal spirits of that city. 



to have from Penetanguishene is at your service. I shall be anxious 
to hear from you on the subject of the removal of the 24th from 
Upper Canada ; and I remain, &c. 

" F. B. Head, 
" Lieutenant-general Sir John Colborne, K.C.B., &c." 



260 CANADA. 

"Government-house, October 29th, 1837. 

"TO THE WORSHIPFUL THE MAYOR OF TORONTO. 

« Sir, 

" I am commanded by the Lieutenant-governor to 
inform you, that in consequence of the disturbed state 
of the Lower Province, His Excellency has cheerfully 
consented to the withdrawal of Her Majesty's troops 
from Toronto, and that His Excellency has, moreover, 
offered to Sir John Colborne the assistance of the 
Military stationed at Kingston. 

" As the 24th Regiment quits the Barracks at this 
post to-morrow, about six thousand stand of arms and 
accoutrements complete, will require to be protected ; 
and the Lieutenant-governor desires me to express to 
you, that he has very great pleasure in offering to 
commit this important trust to the loyalty and fidelity 
of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of the City 
of Toronto. 

(Signed) " J. Joseph." 

A spirited and excellent answer was received, and 
the arms, &c, transferred to the Town Hall, and 
guarded by Volunteers. 

"Kingston, Upper Canada, November 5th, 1837. 

" to &c. 

" When in London last summer, I obtained a know- 
ledge of your unceasing interest in everything relating 
to the Colonies, which gives me the assurance that you 
will not think that it is from any idle motive I now 
address you ; but solely from the concern I entertain 
at a moment of excitement and peril, for the welfare of 



CANADA. 261 

a Province which may justly be regarded as adding 
strength and security to the sceptre of the Queen. 

" I have lived now for ten years in Upper Canada, 
and from constant application to its statistical relations 
and to its increasing resources, have, in making myself 
useful by forwarding projects for internal communica- 
tions, and developing the geology of the country, 
become acquainted with a greater number of its inha- 
bitants, than usually falls to the lot of an officer or a 
casual resident. 

" From these circumstances I am, perhaps, as well 
enabled to judge of the present political state of the 
Colony as almost any one not immediately connected 
therewith, the more particularly from the fact of having 
had a portion of the confidence of the present and the 
late Lieutenant-governor, whilst I have the undoubted 
advantage of being perfectly disinterested, personally, 
otherwise than as an English gentleman must be, for 
the honour of his country. 

u I should have desired when in town to have soli- 
cited you to peruse a MS. on the subject, which I was 
about to publish when Sir Francis Head arrived here, 
and which I had the honour of laying before him ; but 
finding your time was constantly occupied, from the 
event which had just occurred,* I j udged it better to 
avoid giving you so much trouble. 

A decided change of affairs having, however, hap- 
pened, since my return, in Upper Canada, and the 
leisure afforded by the approaching winter, together 
also that I have by my promotion been removed from 

* The death of William IV. and the accession of Her Gracious 
Majesty the Queen. 



262 CANADA. 

the seat of Government to Kingston, seem, in my mind, 
to render it adviseable that I should send the present 
communication ; therefore I shall at once plunge into 
the relation I am about to make. 

" The French in Lower Canada have been led to 
imagine, by Papineau and many of the French lawyers 
of Quebec and Montreal, that the present is a moment 
when, if energy is evinced, they will meet with support 
from the British Parliament, and be enabled to declare 
themselves independent of England. They are assisted 
in their views by that description of persons in the 
United States who, having no fixed property of their 
own, are ever ready to pounce upon prey with avidity, 
whether it be in Texas, on the disputed border, in 
Canada, or anywhere else where the facility afforded by 
the vast internal water communications of North 
America would enable them to reach without much 
expense. 

" Papineau is, it is said, desirous, in the first 
instance only, to annex Lower Canada to the United 
States, hoping afterwards that the seeds of disunion 
sown between the north and the south, will ripen and 
create a vast northern empire, of which the St. 
Lawrence will be the vital artery. 

u The sharp-witted North Americans knew better 
than to dream for an instant that Papineau is anything 
more than a willing tool, with a well-tempered edge, 
which they can manage to hew out their way with ; 
and as the Government of the United States cannot, 
from its present policy and the sincere good-will of the 
respectable portion of its citizens towards Britain, assist 
their operations, so they are determined to make 



CANADA. 263 

another Texan affair of it, if they can ; and with this 
view Greely and others have been sent, to Madawaska, 
to irritate and agitate on the Boundary Line, whilst 
emissaries are continually passing to and from Canada, 
to urge Papineau and his party to overt acts before the 
session of the British Parliament opens. 

" The British part of the Lower Canadians, in- 
cluding the far greater portion of the Irish Catholics, 
who are disliked by the French peasantry, seeing 
the condition of things, and that conciliation only 
renders the Papinists more bold, have at length loudly 
declared themselves, and in professing a devoted loyalty 
to Her Majesty, and a determination to resist French 
domination to the death, openly declared that the 
feudal laws are not at all to their taste; thus giving, ., 
or as it were, shadowing forth to the world, the 
extreme probability that unless their loyalty is sup- 
ported, the British in Lower Canada may voluntarily 
embrace the same course which the French have so 
unwisely hugged — a course that will be eagerly snapped 
at by the neighbouring republicans, who will then 
coalesce with the British instead of the French, and a 
war of extermination to the Catholic religion, and to 
the feudal system as well as to the French language 
would be the result. The British have been goaded to 
this by the insults they receive in the large towns and 
villages, for it is only there that Papinism openly pre- 
vails, as the Canadian peasantry are, in the country, a 
quiet, peaceable, uninstructed race, devoted to the 
Priests, and attached to the places of their birth, from 
which they rarely remove. 

" I travelled lately with a French Roman Catholic 



264 CANADA. 

Bishop, in the woods/ where I had the opportunity of 
unreserved conversation; and upon putting the direct 
question to him, as to the part which the priesthood 
would take in the event of an emeute, he assured me 
that they were too well aware of the immediate con- 
sequences of a declaration of independence to the 
Canadians, not to do all in their power to prevent 
assistance to Papineau, who, as most adventurers of his 
class have done, had discarded religion altogether from 
his mind or motives of action, and is well aware that 
his power is increased in proportion only as he is able 
to bring the Ministers of the Catholic Church into 
contempt ; although he can do so but by covert means, 
as the Canadians generally would not easily be drawn 
out of the track in which they have travelled for ages. 
The Catholic Primate of Canada has just published in 
the Churches directions, which prove that the Bishop 
told me the truth. 

" This is the present picture of Lower Canada. 
Revolt may be apprehended from both parties, and 
both assisted by the Americans with one and the same 
view; but it is not at this moment that any serious 
consequences will result. The means taken to con- 
centrate the troops, the determination displayed by the 
British party, and the failure of the agitators in their 
first attempt at Montreal and at the Boundary Line will 
prevent any further action this winter than, perhaps, an 
occasional murder or arson. 

" But such a state of things cannot last for ever, and 
it is to be fervently hoped that it will soon be put a 
stop to, both for the happiness of the population and 
for the security of the Government. 



CANADA. 265 

" Sensible people in the United States, and with the 
word sensible I mean to connect respectable and respon- 
sible, are far from desiring to see the Canadas annexed 
to their dominion. I travelled from England with 
some American gentlemen of high standing of New 
York, of Boston, of Philadelphia, and with one of the 
principal proprietors of the cotton-manufactories at 
Lowell, the Manchester of America, and I have con- 
versed freely with many others in my tours in the 
States, being known there by geological researches, 
and my father's reputation; and they all agree that 
independent of the necessity and propriety of cultivating 
the friendship of England, they have nothing whatever 
to gain but much to lose by the annexation of the 
Canadas to their Union. Their territory is already too 
widely spread, and they scarcely can conceive that 
Britain would willingly part with a country which 
checks their ambition, whilst it provides for the con- 
tingency of a Russian outpouring ; nor can they believe 
that she would part with a second Gibraltar, as Quebec 
is, holding the key of the St. Lawrence, and the strong 
work at Kingston, which so effectually shuts the 
exitus of the great Mediterranean fresh water seas of 
North America, to which Russian attention is silently 
drawn; for the Russian outposts have got nearly as 
far south as California on the Pacific. But it is not 
my province to state what must be so much better 
judged of by yourself, and I shall therefore at once 
pass on to the present condition of a highly-favoured 
region, Upper Canada. 

"Here a new scene presents itself; the demagogue 
and the agitator, the restless, the idle, and the unprin- 

VOL. I. N 



266 CANADA. 

cipled have not the same excuses with the enfans du sol. 
They have no broad distinctions of religion or origin 
to haunt their imaginations; all are British, or de- 
scended from Britons. 

" The volume of grievance, a volume of shreds and 
patches, industriously got up by Mackenzie, embraces 
endless causes of discontent ; and to read that book in 
England, or to read the production of a very young 
man of the name of Wells, who styles himself " Mem- 
ber of Parliament for Upper Canada," or to listen to 
the ubiquitous Dr. Duncombe, who is an Englishman 
or an American, as it best suits his pocket, or to 
reason with a very excellent young lawyer, who leads 
the Reform party, a stranger to the country would 
suppose that misrule and tyranny had been dealt out 
to Upper Canada by the British Government to an 
extent the world's history had never before shown. 
But on visiting the province, and mixing with its 
population, as I have done to a great extent, one finds 
that, although the discontented are sufficiently nu- 
merous, the friends of British connection are still more 
so, and are truly the respectable portion of the com- 
munity. They feel, and openly express that feeling, 
that the period will arrive when Upper Canada will be 
rich and strong enough to support herself, but without 
dissolving the ties which link her to her Parent, under 
whose alliance and protection they still would remain. 

" Untaxed, unfettered as they now are, what have 
the Upper Canadians to gain by joining the United 
States, where taxation is onerous, and where any 
expression of political feeling must be confined to the 
praise of democratic institutions ? 



CANADA. 267 

u The Upper Canadians feel that they enjoy, in reality, 
that true common weal, which secures to all, the 
protection of the laws, and the free exercise of natural 
rights, without imposing the necessity of a continual 
supervision or surveillance by the governing powers. 

" It would be folly, however, to assert that they have 
no grievances to complain of. They have; and they 
are those which naturally arose from the circumstances 
in which the Colony was erected. 

a The first settlers were persons whose loyalty to, or 
whose conviction of the utility of the mixed form of 
government of Britain, led them to wander in the 
trackless woods of Canada, rather than endure the 
perils and insolence of an untried popular will. Hence 
the principal office-holders were chosen at first from 
the more intelligent or the more enterprising of these 
devoted people, and, by a natural action, son succeeded 
sire, until office and power grew together, and, in a 
narrow scope, family domination succeeded. 

" This is the great and crying evil of the Revolu- 
tionary party, from whose prolific roots the other 
minor complaints, they assert, entirely originate ; and 
it is therefore one deserving of immediate and serious 
consideration; for if any adverse circumstances occur 
to mar the Colony in its advancement, it will be 
supposed to arise from this cause. I do not hesitate 
to say, for I have no interests to consult, that a primary 
step towards settling this grievance, and hewing away 
most of the minor deformities of the Upper Canada 
political plant, would be first to get the axe to the root 
of the tree vigorously, and afterwards cautiously and 
slowly smooth the log itself. 

n2 



268 CANADA. 

€i If Bidwell gets rid of the ' Family Compact/ and 
deprives the present office-holders of place and power, 
would the country be a whit the better for the change ? 
on the contrary, the whining and snuffling disciple of 
American new-light religion, or the open and daring 
traitor, who cared nothing for any form of faith, would 
mount on the stools of office, would dictate unheard-of 
rules of law and religion, and would rapidly sink the 
ancient and venerated Constitution of our forefathers 
beneath the ruddy waves of a fierce and dogmatic 
Republican flood. 

" The present head of the ' Family Party ' in Upper 
Canada, is a man of great natural talent and of tried 
loyalty, possessing the most unbounded influence over 
his followers or adherents, with whom his word is law. 
He holds some of the highest offices of the State ; and, 
in his official acts, as well as in his private conduct, is 
.highly and deservedly respected. He himself is entirely 
devoted to the interests of the party of which he is the 
Coryphoeus, and very naturally desires to see the sons 
of those loyalists, who suffered so many privations in 
1783, succeed to the honours of this rising province. 
But to argue about abstract questions of right or wrong 
in a new country, where, as in a little provincial town 
at home, personal and political feeling is always 
infinitely higher than in an old and extensive com- 
munity, one must enjoy the advantage of being 
unconnected with place or inhabitants. 

" I am of opinion, that the ' Family Compact ' has 
been made a stalking-horse of by Bidwell, Mackenzie, 
and 0' Grady, for want of some tangible and real 
grievance to found then- agitation upon ; and, on 



CANADA. 269 

reading the c Blue-Book' or the e Grievance-Book/ a 
stranger will naturally say, — Why place all official 
emolument and power in the hands of one class of 
persons ? He requires to know, that, until very lately 
indeed, there was no other class either sufficiently 
educated, or with a sufficient stake in the country, 
to entrust it to ; and, amongst those seeking office 
to the detriment of the ' Family/ the principal 
persons were imbued with an insane desire to see 
everything through the perspective glass of the United 
States. 

" The desire to make the Executive, or Privy Council, 
elective, or subject to popular dictation, has been with- 
stood firmly by the Lieutenant-governor, who is, 
however, not unwilling to see that the lead in the 
legislative division of the three estates may be very 
well administered by any other person than the head of 
the law ; and it is by no means unlikely that the Vice- 
chancellor recently created, who is an Englishman, 
totally unconnected with any person or party in the 
province, and but a short time resident in it, may 
occupy the woolsack in like manner as the Chancellor 
of England does, and by the same parity of reasoning ; 
for the Lieutenant-governor, who is Chancellor, cannot, 
of course, do so, and that he or his successors will do 
so, I am persuaded. 

" One of the other loudly-toned grievances is, that the 
Roman Catholic Bishop of Begiopolis and the Arch- 
deacon of Toronto are members of the Council, thus 
giving an appearance that religious dominion is 
added to that of the e Family Compact/ Of the first- 
named personage there is but one opinion throughout 



270 CANADA. 

the length and breadth of Canada ; and it is equally 
well-known that he has never, I believe, but once, when 
first appointed, assumed his seat.* He is loyal to the 
back-bone; and, in the late war, led the Glengarry 
Militia in the field, bearing, as the Americans said, a 
charmed life. He is well-known to some of the mem- 
bers of the Royal Family; and altogether, although ex- 
ceedingly disliked by the American party, is beloved 
and esteemed by every respectable person of every other 
party and of every creed in Canada. 

" The reverend gentleman, who is the great aim and 
object of Republican denunciation, and whose name 
follows that of Bishop Macdonnell, is the leading dig- 
nitary of the Church of England in Upper Canada, and 
is a person known also throughout the length and 
breadth of the provinces, and most extensively at home, 
as a determined supporter of the British Crown, loyal 
to the death, and eminent for his natural and acquired 
talents. The conduct of this worthy scion of the 
Church during the dreadful seasons of the cholera in 
Toronto, will never be forgotten there ; and, altogether, 
Dr. Strachan has probably done more than any indi- 
vidual in the province, or, perhaps, rather than all put 
together, to raise it to its present standing as a British 
Colony. I certainly differ from him in many of his 
views, but the difference is slight, and my respect for his 
cloth forbids me from mentioning such trivial matters, 
excepting one, and that I should have passed over had 
it not been prominently urged by the Bidwellians. 

" In a country like Canada, where the Church of 

* Bishop Macdonnell, — the lamented Bishop Macdonnell, — uni- 
versally loved in Canada. 



CANADA. 271 

England forms only one portion of the modes of faith 
pursued by the settlers, I must think that to bring 
lambs into its fold, will be more easily accomplished by 
a bishop who shall live untrammelled by politics, or 
in other words, I would rather see Dr. Strachan the 
Bishop of Upper Canada, — which it is likely he will be, 
without a seat in the Executive or in the Legislative 
Councils, — for the same reason that I wish to see the 
Chief-justice left to the administration of the laws 
solely. That he may receive the reward of his untiring 
loyalty and his exertions for Upper Canada, is, I am 
sure, the wish of eveiy person who knows Dr. 
Strachan.* 

" But whilst pointing out the slight errors, as I con- 
ceive them, which circumstances alone have created to 
place these excellent and worthy loyalists in, I cannot 
pass over the still more serious and the very dangerous 
opposite course of their dark and designing oppo- 
nents. 

" Opposed diametrically to the great heads of the 
' Family Party ; (for a ' Compact' it is not) is Marshal 
Spring Bidwell, the leader of the Revolutionists in 
Upper Canada — the would-be Cromwell of the country 
— who is a very estimable private character, but a deep, 
keen, subtle, designing, and reflecting politician, young- 
enough to give trouble for nearly half a century more ; 
but who, from physical disability, does not act openly, 
but draws around him, for shelter and cover, the double 
folds of his lawyer's and his speaker's robe, and directs 
the secret workings of the anarchists. This man, 

* The boon has been most graciously conceded by the Sovereign 
since this was written. 



272 > CANADA. 

with Dr. John Rolph of Toronto, lawyer and phy- 
sician, and the venerable and otherwise respectable and 
respected Dr. William Warren Baldwin, are the real 
leaders of the Reform party. The latter, however, does 
not go further than Reform, and is not connected with 
the grand scheme of annexation to the United States. 

"Mackenzie and 0' Grady are the editors of the 
revolutionary newspapers, the Constitution and the 
Correspondent ; the one with nothing to lose, the other 
an unfrocked Roman Catholic Priest, with some landed 
property, well educated, and clever; and who, were it 
not for the notoriety he has gained, might gladly 
renounce his associate. 

" These men thunder from the press constantly against 
Family domination, and have employed Mr. Hume to 
state their grievances to the House of Commons; 
whilst Mr. Roebuck pleads the cause of the ninety-two 
Resolutions for Lower Canada, before the same tri- 
bunal. 

" The great grievance, or, as it may be justly styled, 
the great humbug of Family domination can, if proved 
true, be readily abated ; — but the grievance of a domi- 
nation by Bidwell and his party — the Family Compact 
of the United States' institutions — -would never cease, if 
once it got a footing ; as revolution must necessarily 
follow in its wake, and Canada, instead of rising, must 
sink, sink, sink ! 

" The next master grievance is the Clergy Reserves, 
which, by a perversion of terms, is stated to be a part 
and parcel of the e Family Compact/ 

u I am a member of the Church of England, and a 
Conservative both by birth and principles, attached 



CANADA, 273 

firmly to its institutions ; but I cannot shut my eyes to 
the fact that there are fewer adherents of that Church 
than of any other in Upper Canada, and that it must, 
therefore, be unjust to uphold it exclusively at the 
expense of the community ; whilst the very acrimonious 
debates in the House of Assembly, between the sup- 
porters of the Clergy Reserves question and the Pres- 
byterian or Scotch opponents of it, having placed one 
Crown lawyer in a very awkward position, shows that 
the time is approaching when some master minds must 
grapple with the question on State grounds of policy, 
or there will, otherwise, be serious results. 

"A complete reorganization of the land-granting 
system is also necessary, by which the delays and diffi- 
culties attending the expensive process to emigrants, of 
dancing attendance at the public offices at Toronto, 
would be finally checked; and this might be easily 
managed by the nomination of respectable agents of 
the Land Board in the different districts; whilst the 
right of voting at elections by British emigrants, upon 
the payment of the stipulated sum on the first instal- 
ment of their purchase, should be a primary object of 
attention.* The separation of pluralities in all official 
situations, as far as practicable, and the reward of 
talent and merit, without regard to interest or family 
claims, should be held out as the goal to which the 
young Upper Canadians might hereafter aspire. 

" I have thus briefly, and perhaps hastily, put together 
my notions upon what might be done to satisfy the 
people here ; but if it is found impracticable to do so, 

* It is singular that for some years past the office of Surveyor- 
general, so important for a rising colony, has not been rilled up in 
Canada.— Editor. 

N 3 



274 CANADA. 

,which I cannot credit, I see nothing else, as a last 
resource, but the union of all the provinces ; and then 
Upper Canada being the only inland colony having at 
present a most indirect communication with the Parent 
State, would, instead of being under a Deputy- 
governor, be controlled by the Viceroy of British 
America, who would always be an officer of the highest 
rank or talent,* — perhaps one of the Royal Family. 
Then complete the line of fortresses round Kingston, 
make it the naval and military stronghold of the Great 
Lakes, and permit a free navigation of the St. Lawrence 
to all the provinces, with Montreal as the great port of 
entry for "Western Canada, and Quebec for Eastern. 
A port might be established at the foot of the current 
St. Mary, or at Isle Jesus, at the back of Montreal, 
wheije it is proposed to open a canal of communication 
with the Ottawa, St. Lawrence, and Rideau navigations, 
and where cargoes for Upper Canada might be tran- 
shipped into the boats and barges plying on those 
canals, until the opening of them all, to a width suffi- 
cient for steam-boats, would create an uninterrupted 
water-road from the Atlantic to Lake Superior.f This 
could all be effected without any cession of territory 
from Lower Canada, other than the mere port of entry, 
the canal, and the land on which the Custom-house 
would be erected ; and would afford that to the Upper 
Canadians which they will eventually insist upon, — a 
free communication with England. 

" Whilst upon this subject, and to show the im- 
portance to England of an uninterrupted water-com- 

* I still believe in 1847 that this impression on my mind in 1838 
will be verified. 

f Railroads are about to effect this. — Editor. 



CANADA. 275 

munication from London to the Falls of St. Mary, on 
Lake Superior, I shall just touch upon a famous scheme 
of the Americans, — a project to unite the waters of the 
Mexican Gulf with those of the Canadian Lakes, 
which, if achieved, will create a new power and empire 
in Central North America. 

" Professor Mitchell, of New York, wrote an essay, 
which is attached to an American edition of Cuvier's 
' Theoiy of the Earth/ in which he says : ' B. F. 
Stickney has written some valuable geological obser- 
vations on the middle lakes or seas of North America. 
He states, that the elevation of the land between Lake 
Michigan and the Mississippi, does not exceed eighteen 
feet, and that boats pass without difficulty for three or 
four months of the year. This ingenious inquirer asks, 
whether a dam, twenty or more feet high, across the 
Strait of Niagara, would not raise the Middle Lake 
high enough to discharge by the south-west towards 
the Gulf of Mexico. It violates no principle to 
suppose it formerly was so/— P. 360. ' Observations 
of the Geology of North America/ by Samuel Mitchell, 
Professor of Botany and Mineralogy, New York.* 

u The Americans, in short, lose no opportunity of 
opening lines of communication for interior produce, 
however vast and gigantic the operations may be. The 
survey of their intended Ship-canal round the Falls of 
Niagara, by the topographical engineers, is most ably 
and beautifully executed. 

"But, to return to my subject ; the book I mentioned 
as having been shown to the Lieutenant-governor on his 



* The Illinois Canal, connecting Lake Michigan with the Missis- 
sippi, is now in operation.— Editor. 



276 CANADA. 

arrival here, embraces all the preceding points, much 
more, of course, at large than can be accomplished in 
the limits of a letter, and enters into statistic details ; 
but at present I have no intention of publishing it, as 
it would require, in the existing state of the Colony, to 
be re-written and somewhat remodelled. 

u I shall be happy at any time to afford you any 
information which may be legitimately within my 
power, and I can only now say, that I hope I may not 
be deemed tedious ; but in such exciting times one is 
apt to step beyond usual bounds. My removal from 
the seat of Government, by my promotion, affords an 
additional reason for sending you this statement, as I 
am, excepting in my military capacity, wholly uncon- 
nected with the local administration, and desirous only 
to see it flourish by a wise course of action and by 
timely paring off some of these too luxuriant shoots 
which time itself had fostered, and which previous to 
Sir Francis Head's dynasty, had been pointed out from 
home, as to where the pruning knife might be most 
efficiently and safely used, so as to train the Colonial 
tree into a more regular growth. 

" I feel perfectly convinced that Upper Canada is the 
main stay of all the British possessions in the New 
World, a check to French intrigue or domination, a 
balance duly weighed against Republicanism and the 
desire to annihilate British power on the Continent, 
and a point to which the eyes of the sister colonies are 
anxiously directed; and I am equally certain that 
Upper Canada will remain in close connexion with the 
Parent State, and requires only to be treated with 
impartiality to gain over to the bonds of that connexion 
many very estimable men who have joined the ranks of 



CANADA. - 277 

the enemy from mere personal disappointment, or from 
supposing that Great Britain cares but little about 
Canada, which has been most industriously urged. 
" With much regard and respect, 

" I subscribe myself, &c, 

" R. H. B." 

Such was the state of Upper Canada in the month of 
November, 1837. The season of winter set in, at first, 
veiy stormy; but as December lengthened, mild and 
open weather prevailed throughout Upper Canada, and 
at Christmas navigation was still going on, principally 
by steamboats, on Lake Ontario, continuing until 
near February. Such a season had scarcely ever been 
known ; fortunate was it for Upper Canada that Divine 
Providence had so ordained it; for had the usual 
severity of frost existed, no direct communication 
between the far- distant points of the Upper Canadian 
metropolis, the military depot of Kingston, and the 
weak and assailable frontier of Amherstburgh and 
Niagara could have been had ; whilst the passage from 
the United States to most of these places, excepting 
Toronto, would have been comparatively easy on the 
ice ! and the interior townships, in which disaffection 
chiefly existed, would have been equally open to the 
march of internal as the other would have been for 
external foes. 

When Sir Francis Head took the bold and resolute 
measure of sending all the troops out of the province to 
Sir John Colborne, vast was the joy in the camp of the 
Revolutionists. They at once threw off the mask, but 
still Upper Canada remained comparatively tranquil. 

The formidable Convention of Delegates were still, 



278 CANADA.. 

however, in existence, and consisted, as appears by 
Mackenzie's Gazette, of the following persons, chosen 
by a series of resolutions, one of which is, — " Resolved, 
that reposing the greatest confidence in our fellow- 
citizens, John Rolph, M.P.P. ; Marshall Spring Bid- 
well; S. D. Morrison, M.P.P. ; James Leslie, Esq.; 
James H. Price, Esq.; John Edward Tims, Esq.; 
Robert M'Kay, Esq.; we do hereby nominate and 
appoint them Members of the Provincial Convention 
for the City of Toronto. Carried unanimously and by 
acclamation." 

Of these gentlemen three were medical practitioners ; 
namely, Rolph, Morrison, and Tims ; two were law- 
yers ; namely, Bidwell and Price. Leslie was a book- 
seller, of very respectable standing. What M'Kay 
was I do not remember. 

Besides this Convention there had been an " Alliance 
Society " for Upper Canada, and a " Constitutional 
Reform Society." Of the intentions of the " Alliance 
Society " and its objects no doubt existed. Its Presi- 
dent was Dr. Morrison, Mayor of Toronto ; its Vice- 
president, Mr. James Macintosh; Dr. Tims was the 
Secretary, and Mr. Parsons, a small tradesman, its 
Treasurer. 

The " Constitutional Reform Society w possessed 
many members of intelligence, whose views went not 
to foster revolution. Its President was the venerable 
Dr. William Warren Baldwin ; Secretary, Mr. Francis 
Hincks, — then a partnership Commission-merchant, 
Editor of a Reform Newspaper, and now occupying a 
prominent situation in the Cabinet of the United Cana- 
das as the Honourable Mr. Hincks. Its Treasurer was 
the same James Leslie, the bookseller of Toronto. 



CANADA. 279 

As all this is matter of history, I shall also briefly 
state who were the leading members of the State when 
the Insurrection broke out, and who gave such active 
and honourable assistance to the Lieutenant-governor. 

President of the Council, the Honourable Robert 
Baldwin Sullivan, nephew of Dr. Baldwin, and an 
eminent young Barrister. 

Executive Councillors, the Honourable Captain 
Baldwin, R. N., brother of Dr. Baldwin; the Honour- 
able William Allan, President of the Bank of Upper 
Canada; the Honourable John Elmsley, R. N.; the 
Honourable William Henry Draper, Solicitor-general. 

John Joseph, Esq., was the Civil and Private Secre- 
tary, and Captain Frederick Halkett, of the Guards,* 
Military Secretary and Aide-de-camp. 

Chief-justice, the Honourable John Beverley Ro- 
binson ; Attorney-general, the Honourable Christopher 
Hagerman ; Solicitor-general, the Honourable Mr. 
Draper. 

Robert S. Jameson, Esq., Vice-chancellor. The 
Judges were the Honourables L. P. Sherwood, J. B. 
Macaulay, Archibald McLean, and Jonas Jones. 

Colonel C. L. L. Foster, Assistant Adjutant-general, 
was left in command of the troops at Toronto. 

Lieutenant- colonel Cubitt, commanding the Royal 
Artillery, was at Kingston; and Major Bonnycastle, 
commanding the Royal Engineers in Upper Canada, 
was also there. 

The Militia was totally disorganized, and had never 
been out, except for one training-day, a year since 1815. 

* This amiable and regretted young officer lost his life from ex- 
posure to the weather, and the extraordinary fatigues he, in common 
with others, underwent during the rebellion. 



280 CANADA. 

Some troops of Dragoons and some Volunteer com- 
panies of Artillery, however, had occasionally been 
drilled a very little. The 1st Volunteer Company of 
Artillery under Major Carfrae, and the 2nd under 
Captain Stennet, had, however, been drilled well by 
Captain Leckie, an old Sergeant of the Royal Artillery, 
who was in the Adjutant-general's office at Toronto. 
I had also frequently seen the troop of Cavalry, under 
Captain Wilson, — formerly Captain Bethune's, and 
attached to the 2nd Frontenac regiment at Kingston — 
exercising, and no doubt some few others were equally 
well-clothed and instructed ; but in general the sword 
was sheathed, and the cannon and musket seen only in 
the Ordnance storehouses. The Militia were under the 
direction of Colonel N. Coffin, a very old and highly- 
respected officer of the army, who was assisted in his 
office by Lieutenant-colonel Walter G'Hara, who had 
seen much Peninsular service. The Indian department, 
entirely a peaceful one, was superintended by Colonel 
Givins, and at the Six Nations, by Major Winniett, 
formerly commanding the 68th Regiment. A Captain 
of the Royal Artillery and a subaltern remained at 
Kingston, and a Captain and two subalterns of En- 
gineers were at Toronto or at Kingston. About twenty 
gunners, detached at Kingston, Niagara, or Toronto, 
composed the personnel of the Upper Canada army, or 
all the regular force which had not marched, or were 
marching to the support of the forces in Lower Canada. 
Mackenzie and his confreres, conceived this to be 
about the best season at which Papineau's plans could 
be assisted. The news of the disasters experienced 
by Papineau's generals had scarcely reached Toronto, 
when the flame of insurrection was briskly fanned by 



CANADA. 281 

the arch-agitator Mackenzie, who, throwing overboard 
Bidwell, Rolph, Morrison, et id genus omne, who did 
not think that fighting was a pleasant occupation, he 
concocted a rising with Lount, M'Intosh, and others, 
the taking of Toronto and of the Lieutenant-governor, 
and a declaration of independence. 

I was sitting very quietly at home at Kingston one 
evening in the beginning of December, — after having 
returned from Fort Henry, which had been left unfi- 
nished, and which I had been engaged in placing in 
such a condition as to prevent surprise, or the de- 
struction of its ponderous works by an incendiary, — 
when I was surprised by a person running into my 
room and telling me that a steam-boat, the Traveller, 
had arrived from Toronto, wdth Sir Francis Head and 
all who were able to escape from that city, which had 
been taken by Mackenzie and burnt. 

I buckled on my armour to go down to the Artillery 
Barracks, where the Commandant of our little garrison 
of about eleven or twelve Artillerymen resided, to take 
his orders as to wiiat was best to be done in such a 
dreadful emergency ; and particularly as our com- 
munications both with Toronto and Montreal, by land, 
were interrupted, or wholly cut off by the rebels. 
I had just got out, when a second breathless mes- 
senger came in, — for the hall- door was left open to my 
neighbours, who, alarmed beyond measure, were crowd- 
ing in to hear the news. This gentleman informed 
me that the steam-boat had brought nothing whatever 
from Toronto, but that some serious outbreak had 
occurred there, and that all her cargo was a letter for 
me. It was, indeed, a letter, ordering me to send up 



282 CANADA. 

stores, and to arm all loyal persons, and preserve in- 
tact tlie great military depot of Kingston and its nearly 
finished fortress. At the same time a duplicate had been 
sent by land, and the person who bore it only escaped 
with his life. He was an active young gentleman, and 
was narrowly searched and examined by the rebels on 
his route, whilst his compagnon de voyage was taken 
prisoner. He sewed the dispatch in his sleeve; and 
by it, after he reached me late at night, I was again 
ordered to arm the loyalists, and to assume the com- 
mand of the Militia ; which after duly consulting with 
my senior officer, Colonel Cubitt, who was then suffering 
from extreme ill-health, and, I grieve to say, survived 
only after long and protracted suffering, I waited on 
the Magistrates, and took the measures, which will be 
hereafter detailed. 

" Toronto was," as Sir Francis Head so truly and 
graphically says, " in a moment of profound peace, on 
the 4th of December, 1837, suddenly invaded by a 
band of armed rebels ; amounting, according to report 
to 3,000 men (but in actual fact about 500), and com- 
manded by Mr. Mackenzie, the Editor of a Republican 
newspaper; Mr. Van Egmond, an officer who had 
served under Napoleon ; Mr. Gibson, a land-surveyor ; 
Mr. Lount, a blacksmith; Mr. Loyd, and some other 
notorious characters." 

Sir Francis Head has been blamed severely for suf- 
fering the open and unconcealed designs of these men 
to proceed to such a length. Whatever information the 
Lieutenant-governor may have had, I am certain that 
the country at large had not the most remote idea of 
an actual resort to arms. 



CANADA. 283 

I have before me The Kingston Herald, a Whig 
newspaper, always edited by persons in the Wesleyan 
Methodist Connexion, and printed on the 12th Decem- 
ber, 1837, which has the following paragraph in evi- 
dence of the state of the times : 

" The rebellion which broke out a few days since in 
the immediate vicinity of the capital of Upper Canada, 
is an event which cannot fail to have startled the 
great mass of our quiet and unsuspecting fellow-sub- 
jects, who, unaware of the desperate character of the 
plot formed for the overthrow of the Government, 
fancied the country in a state of entire security and 
peace." 

Sir Francis himself observes, in his u Narrative of 
his Government," in which, unfortunately, he gives the 
public very little of the events of the insurrection, that 
"the traitorous arrangements which Mackenzie made, 
were of that minute nature that it would have been 
difficult, even if I had desired it, to have suppressed 
them; for instance, he began by establishing Union 
Lists (in number not exceeding forty) of persons de- 
sirous of political reform; and who, by an appointed 
secretary, were recommended to communicate regularly 
with himself, for the purpose of establishing a meeting 
of delegates. 

" As soon as, by most wicked misrepresentations, he 
had succeeded in seducing a number of well-meaning 
people to join these squads, his next step was to prevail 
upon a few of them to attend their meetings armed, 
for the alleged purpose of firing at a mark. 

"While these meetings were in continuance, Mr. 
Mackenzie, by means of his newspaper, and by constant 
personal attendance, succeeded in inducing his adherents 



284 CANADA. 

to believe that lie was everywhere strongly supported, 
and that his means, as well as his forces, would prove 
invincible." 

Thus Mackenzie proceeded ; and the armed meetings 
which took place were chiefly confined to a place called 
Loyd Town, and other villages or farming stations in 
the neighbourhood of the great road from Toronto to 
Lake Simcoe, called Yonge-street. These bands were 
armed with rifles imported from the United States, and 
with pikes manufactured by such blacksmiths as Mr. 
Lount, who, heading or assisting the political local 
unions, were in fact busy only in forming the nucleus 
of a revolutionary army, which on the 19th of December, 
1837, was to be concentrated for the overthrow, at 
Toronto, of the Upper Canadian Imperial Government, 
and Sir Francis Head having received intelligence of 
the meditated attack, issued a Militia General Order, 
which hastened the proceedings of the rebels. 

Mackenzie and his conclave accordingly determined, 
before any adequate force could be armed by the 
Government, to push matters to extremity, and sent 
emissaries forth to summon his army to meet at Mont- 
gomery's Tavern, — a very large wooden range of build- 
ings, capable of containing many men and horses, and 
only about four miles from Toronto, on a rising ground 
which commanded the great thoroughfare called Yonge- 
street, leading from the city through the highly- 
cultivated townships, for thirty-six miles, to Lake 
Simcoe, and in which direction his principal supporters 
resided, in farms or small villages to the right or the 
left of that road ; such as Lount' s Farm, Loyd Town, 
David's Town, &c. David's Town we must not pass 
over without a word. 



CANADA. 285 

At a short distance from Newmarket, which is about 
three miles to the right of Yonge-street, near its 
termination at the Holland Landing, or a river of that 
name running into Lake Simcoe, is a settlement of 
religious enthusiasts, who have chosen the most fertile 
part of Upper Canada, the country near and for miles 
around Newmarket, for the seat of their earthly 
tabernacle. Here numbers of deluded people have 
placed themselves under the temporal and spiritual 
charge of a high-priest, who calls himself David, his 
real name is David Wilson. The temple (as the 
building appropriated to the celebration of their rites 
is called), is served by this man, who affects a primitive 
dress, and has a train of virgin ministrants clothed in 
white. He travels about occasionally to preach at 
towns and villages in a wagon, followed by others, 
covered with white tilt-cloths : but what his peculiar 
tenets are, beyond that of dancing and singing, and 
imitating David the King, I really cannot tell, for it is 
altogether too farcical to last long j* but Mr. David 
seems to understand clearly, as far as the temporal 
concerns of his infatuated followers go, that the old- 
fashioned significations of meum and tuum are reli- 
giously centered in his own sanctum. It was natural 
that such a field should produce tares in abund- 
ance. 

On the 4th day of December, 1837, the forest roads 
for forty miles in rear of Toronto witnessed for the first 
time in the history of Canada, the unnatural scene of 
armed men marching along their beautiful avenues, to 

* I visited him in 1848, when he was still flourishing. — Editor. 



286 CANADA. 

subvert a Government from which they had received 
not only no injuries, but the utmost forbearance and 
kindness. They reached their destination in the even- 
ing, at four o' clock, and then commenced " the Rebel- 
lion " in Upper Canada. 

The loyal subjects of the Queen who resided in 
Yonge-street* and in the townships adjacent, no sooner 
heard of this daring march, than they also flew to arms 
to defend their monarch and their homes. One of these 
was an old officer, who had fought and bled for the 
cause of order and loyalty in the American war, 
Colonel Moodie, and who, after distinguishing himself, 
particularly in Canada, had retired two or three years 
before this event, to settle himself and his family on 
Yonge-street, upon a very pretty farm, which was 
situated not very far from the position chosen by 
Mackenzie. Two of his neighbours and himself, having 
ascertained the facts of the march, the impressment of 
wagons, the seizure of cattle and supplies, and that the 
flag of Rebellion was actually unfurled, mounted their 
horses to dash on to Toronto and inform the Lieu- 
tenant-governor. 

Mackenzie, on taking up the position of Mont- 
gomery's Tavern, at Gallows Hill, well knew that in his 
rear hung a great body of loyalists, who only required 
correct information of his motions to harass his advance 
upon the city. To prevent this, he stationed men in 
appropriate places to arrest every person going to or 
coming from Toronto; and he performed personally the 
same duty, having with him a body-guard. 

* The name of the road through the fine country leading to Lake 
Simcoe from Toronto. — Editor. 

vV 



CANADA. 287 

The three gentlemen, on perceiving their danger as 
they approached the camp of the rebels, put spurs to 
their horses and dashed along the road. They were 
summoned to surrender, which they refused, and con- 
tinued to gallop on. A volley was fired at them; 
unfortunately two shots took effect upon the gallant 
old soldier Moodie, and he fell mortally wounded from 
his horse. One of his companions was made prisoner, 
and the other escaped. 

This was the first act of the drama of revolution ; 
let us see what it was thought of by spectators 
of the Canadian Whig and the Canadian Tory 
parties. 

I have preserved the Upper Canada Herald of the 
11th December, 1837, and as 1 was not an eye- 
witness of the scene shall condense from it; as the chief 
Whig organ conducted by Methodists, its relation is 
derived from the actors, as well as its opinions on the 
plot, by which much may be gleaned useful to the 
politician in the present state of things in the United 
Canadas. 

There will be a little recapitulation of the foregoing 
matter, but it serves to show the loyalty of a large and 
most influential portion of the people of Western Canada, 
whilst, as I know it to be written from the very best 
authority, and to be perfectly correct in its details, it 
will save the trouble of much collation, and will afford 
the English reader as good an insight to the sandy 
foundation on which Bidwell and Mackenzie's grand 
schemes were founded, as could be had if that reader 
had been really in the province, and a disinterested 
looker-on, whilst he will feel persuaded, that in stating 



288 CANADA. 

rny own opinions I am fully corroborated by parties of 
different feelings. 

THE REBELLION IN UPPER CANADA. 

{From the " Upper Canada Herald 1 ' of December 12th, 1837.) 

The Rebellion, which broke out a few days since in the immediate 
vicinity of the capital of Upper Canada, is an event which cannot fail 
to have startled the great mass of our quiet and unsuspecting fellow- 
subjects, who, unaware of the desperate character of the plot formed 
for the overthrow of the Government, fancied the country in a state of 
entire security and peace. 

For several weeks past, rumours have prevailed of meetings at 
Loyd-town and other* places about Yonge-street, at which bands of 
malcontents were understood to have assembled for the purpose of 
military drill. In some instances it was asserted that these bands 
were actually armed, and that rifles were imported from abroad, and 
manufactured at home for the use of the persons who bad associated 
together, under the name of Political Unions, ostensibly for reform, 
but in fact for the organization of an armed revolutionary force. 

The paper called the Constitution, edited by William Lyon Mac- 
kenzie (whose name long notorious, is now above measure steeped in 
infamy)^ has lately been seen to surpass all its former audacity, and 
openly to excite the worst passions of its readers, by the most artful 
misrepresentations as well as the most flagitious falsehoods, respecting 
our form of Government, the policy of our Executive, as well Impe- 
rial as Colonial, and the character and conduct of the most prominent 
and honorable persons in the country. It indeed went further, and 
openly pressed on the attention of the people of Upper Canada, the 
advantages they would derive from the immediate and total overthrow 
of all our existing institutions and political connections, and the 
erection of an independent State. 

"Well aware how truly free and excellent was the constituted form 
of Government now enjoyed here, neither the Executive nor the 
people heeded the growing virulence and atrocity of the revolutionary 
Journals of the metropolis, and in the midst of this favoured security, 
the conspirators against the peace and welfare of Upper Canada were 
left to concoct their schemes of violence and bloodshed at their leisure. 

At length Papineau and his miserable adherents madly rushed to 
arms, and aimed a parricidal blow at the Queen's Government in 
Lower Canada ; and the Lieutenant-governor of this province, fully 
relying on the unsullied loyalty of our brave Militia, consented to the 
withdrawal of the entire military force from our garrisons for the press- 



CANADA. 289 

ing exigences below, and the effectual suppression in that quarter of 
all lawless attempts at commotion. 

This conjuction appears to have been eagerly seized by the dis- 
affected party in Upper Canada, as precisely the most favourable to 
their views ; and they formed a project for possessing themselves of 
the capital and public archives, and establishing a Government wholly 
independent of the British sceptre. The long-cherished hope of 
rebellion and revolution seemed near an immediate realization ; and a 
bold plot was suddenly devised (the ramifications of which are yet to be 
fully traced), which appears unequalled by any recorded in history since 
the great conspiracy of Catiline for the subversion of the Roman State. 

There is reason to believe that an active correspondence has for 
some time been kept up between the leaders in and about Toronto and 
the malcontents in Lower Canada, and various parts of our own pro- 
vince ; and it is also found that arrangements were commenced by the 
most prominent members of the conspiring gang (the fit tools of more 
crafty persons behind the screen), for securing to what has been styled 
"the Patriotic cause," the active services of American adventurers. 
It was clearly the intention of the conspirators, that after drilling a 
sufficient number of desperadoes, in separate squads at different 
places in the Home district within a day's march of Toronto, a sudden 
rush on the town should be made simultaneously by the whole of them 
under their boldest leaders, on the 19th inst., — that the town should 
be fired in different places for the purpose of distracting and terrifying 
the inhabitants ; that in the mean time they should gain possession of 
the fort, the public offices, and the persons of the Lieutenant-governor 
and his officers, and that they should then hoist on the Government- 
house a flag provided for the contingency, proclaim a Republic, and 
organize a new Government. 'Owing to the determination of His 
Excellency Sir Francis B. Head, to which he had come on Saturday, 
the 2nd inst, for the purpose of allaying the apprehensions enter- 
tained by many citizens of Toronto respecting the object of the Yonge- 
street drillings, to order that the Colonels of Militia should hold their 
regiments in readiness for any emergency ; the rebellion broke out a 
fortnight before the time originally fixed on. The leading conspirators 
dreaded the organization of the Militia of Toronto, which would have 
been speedily accomplished under the Militia-general order of 
Monday, the 4th inst., and therefore resolved to enter and carry the 
city by a coup- de-main on the night immediately following the issue of 
that order — a night which is destined to become ever memorable in 
in our country's annals. Accordingly Mackenzie, who acted in the 
capacity of General, in concert with Gibson, M.P.P., Lount, Loyd, 
Fletcher, and one Anthony Anderson, assembled their forces, which 

VOL. I. O 



290 CANADA. 

they had recently been engaged in drilling at Montgomery's Tavern, 
about four miles from the city, in the course of Monday, and prepared 
for an advance in the night. 

Sundry citizens had, in the meanwhile, heard vague rumours of the 
intentions of the conspirators, and met together in the City Hall the 
same evening, from whence scouts were despatched to gather informa- 
tion respecting the movements of the expected assailants ; and to this 
precaution, under providence, are we probably indebted for our pre- 
servation from frightful evils and a loss of many valuable lives. Two 
of the scouts, viz., — Mr. John Powell, an alderman of the city, and 
Mr. Archibald M'Donell, wharfinger, — proceeded in the evening up 
Yonge-street, and after passing the toll-gate, were met on Gallows- hill 
by two persons on horseback, who proved' to be Mackenzie himself and 
Anthony Anderson, — now known to be one of his most daring confe- 
derates. These men desired the scouts to surrender, and M'Donell, 
being unarmed, was captured, but Powell, having arms, effected his 
escape after firing one pistol at Anderson (who was thrown by the 
plunging of his horse, and broke his neck in the fall), and presenting 
another, which missed fire, at the head of the other traitor. Powell 
instantly made his way to town, where he gave the alarm to the 
Government and people. Immediately afterwards, an inhabitant of 
Yonge-street effected a passage through the rebel force, which had 
established itself on Montgomery' s-hill, and commenced cutting off all 
communication between the ©ity and the country in its rear, and he 
also gave the alarm. On this the bells of the college and churches 
rang, and the citizens were roused from their beds by the astounding 
cry that a rebellion had actually begun, and the insurgents in full 
march on the city : instantly the whole city was roused and in motion, 
The Lieutenant-governor threw himself into the Town-hall, as the 
most available position for immediate defence against a foe, of whose 
actual numbers no positive information had been obtained ; and there 
he superintended the issue of the arms (which, by a happy foresight 
had been brought from the depot at Kingston), to the citizens of all 
classes who flocked around him, firmly bent on defending the place to 
the last extremity. It was an anxious and critical moment, and the 
scene then presented will not soon be obliterated from the memory of 
those who witnessed it. There were to be seen, fully accoutred with 
musket, belt, bayonet, and car touch-box, and standing in the ranks, 
judges, councillors, and public officers, by the side of the loyal mer- 
chant, mechanic, and labourer. One and all prepared to defend and 
uphold the government of their Queen against the movers of" sedition, 
privy conspiracy, and rebellion." The night was passed in momentary 
expectation of attack and vigorous arrangements for repelling it ; but 



CANADA. 291 

no enemy appeared ; and when morning dawned, Sir Francis found 
himself surrounded hy about 300 men, who had been hastily armed, 
together with a field-piece which had been brought down from the 
garrison in the course of the night, being one of those fortunately left 
at Toronto for salutes, and now destined for sterner uses in civil war. 

The reason why the rebels did not follow up their intention of 
attacking the city when they would have found it the least prepared 
for defence, is not exactly known. It is, however, probable they were 
checked by the death of Anderson, as well as the proof given by the 
bells, that the citizens were roused. 

A small select band of resolute young gentlemen, under the com- 
mand of the Honourable Mr. Justice Jones, formed a piquet at another 
toll-gate the latter part of the night, and would have given the rebels 
a warmer reception than they anticipated, if they had attempted to 
enter the city, unless in very great force. 

In the course of this eventful night, intelligence was received that 
the rebels posted at Montgomery* s-hill had attempted to arrest three 
persons on horseback who were pushing their way into town. One of 
these persons was that gallant old veteran, Colonel Moodie, well 
known in this province while in command of the 104th Regiment 
during the American war, and who had recently purchased a farm on 
Yonge- street, about sixteen miles from town, with the intention of 
there spending the remainder of his days^in quiet retirement in the 
bosom of his family. He and his party were summoned to surrender 
themselves as prisoners, but refused, and while attempting to gallop 
past the rebels, they w^ere fired upon. One of the party succeeded in 
effecting his escape to town, another was captured. Unhappily the 
volley took effect on Colonel Moodie, who fell from his horse mortally 
wounded, and expired a few hours afterwards. 

This foul murder was sufficient to prove that the insurgents were 
ready to perpetrate any deed of atrocity ; and it was soon followed by 
other crimes, as we shall hereafter show. 

On the first signal of alarm, an express had been dispatched to the 
Honourable Allan N. M'Nab, one of the Colonels of the Gore Militia, 
with intelligence respecting the extraordinary condition of things at 
Toronto ; and soon afterwards an express was sent to the Eastward with 
letters to various persons as far down as Kingston. Both these 
messengers fortunately reached their destination ; though the person 
who went to Kingston was waylaid by two fellows a few miles below 
the city, and forced to shoot one of them in order to escape. 

His Excellency, as soon as the sun rose on Tuesday, marshalled his 
force in front of the Town-hall, and addressed them briefly in a few 
animated and energetic words, which were received with cheers, such 

o2 



292 CANADA. 

as alone sufficed to prove the metropolis already secure from the 
grasp of the revolutionists then at its doors. 

The day was occupied in completing the defensive arrangements, 
and organizing the armed men into companies, under active officers. 
Piquets were posted at proper places, to observe the movements of 
the rebels. Volunteers were sent to assist Colonel Foster in defend- 
ing the fort. A strong garrison was thrown into the Bank of Upper 
Canada, which being a stone building is capable of repelling the 
assaults of any foe not supported by artillery. Gradually the whole 
mass of the well-affected inhabitants of the city were fully equipped 
with arms, and rapidly acquired confidence in themselves. In the 
early part of the day His Excellency sent a message to the insur- 
gents by who gave it a different colouring, signify- 
ing his great anxiety to prevent the effusion of blood in this most 
unnatural rebellion, and his desire that they should return to their 
allegiance. — The answer returned by the infatuated creatures was to 
the effect that they would not treat with Sir Francis, and that nothing 
but a National Convention would satisfy them, whilst they gave the 
Lieutenant-governor until two o'clock to consider of the question of a 
Convention of the people to remodel the Government. Comment on 
such an answer is needless. 

About four o'clock in the afternoon a thick smoke was seen to 
ascend from Yonge- street, at the distance of two miles from town ; it 
proved to be the house of Dr. Home, situated near the Toll-gates, 
which had been set on fire by Mackenzie, by whom the work of 
destruction was personally superintended, — thus adding arson to the 
long and black catalogue of his villainies. The new and commodious 
mansion of Sheriff Jarvis, beautifully situated on an eminence near 
Doctor Home's cottage, was it seems at one time doomed to the flames, 
but spared at the intercession of one of the rebel chiefs, who is under- 
stood to be under personal obligations to the worthy Sheriff. 

As evening closed upon the town, Mackenzie mustered his forces, 
and, mounted on a white horse, led them down Yonge-street, till he 
came within half a mile of Lot-street, when he wheeled about on 
seeing that Sheriff Jarvis' s piquet was ready to receive him at the 
avenue to the house of the late Doctor Macaulay. He then retired ; 
but it was believed that an attack was to be made in^the course of the 
night, and the loyalists were therefore on the alert. About seven 
o'clock, the rebels are believed to have been in full march to enter 
the city, and their skirmishers approached the Sheriff's piquet, 
having first captured Messrs. Duggan and Hutchinson, — two spirited 
and courageous youths, who were in advance as soon as the approach 
of the enemy was noticed; apart of the Sheriff's company discharged 



CANADA. 293 

t'neir pieces, and the fire was returned, but without effect. The re- 
mainder of the piquet then poured in a volley, on which the rebels 
scampered in great haste up Yonge- street until they had reached a safe 
position. Duggan was carried off by them, but Hutchinson managed 
amid the confusion to eseape, and on his return found, lying in the 
road, one of the rebels killed and two wounded. This repulse may 
perhaps have prevented Mackenzie from renewing the assault on the 
town that night, or it may have been that he was dismayed by the 
opportune arrival from Hamilton of Colonel McNab with sixty gallant 
fellows, who had hastily mustered around him on learning what had 
occurred at Toronto, and came down in a steamer. The loyalists also 
of Scarborough, under their Captain, McLean, arrived in the course 
of the night ; and like the men of Gore were received with enthusiastic 
cheering. When the sun rose on Wednesday morning, the streets 
of the city bristled with bayonets, and it was ascertained that the 
Militia were preparing on all sides to pour into the eity and obtain 
arms for the purpose of suppressing the rebellion. 

As Mackenzie had completely cut oif the communications between 
the city and the townships in its rear, no information could be 
obtained of the proceedings of the Loyal Militia in the interior, but 
hitherto the communications by the Eastern and Western roads had 
not been materially impeded. The mails by those routes' had been 
allowed to enter and depart from the eity without molestation. On 
Wednesday morning, however, Mackenzie went with a party to the 
post-road leading to Dundas, and there intercepted the outward mail 
of that day — thus adding to the capital felonies already committed, 
that of robbing the mail ; but all such crimes merge in the general 
one of high treason, committed by this audacious and wicked man, and 
his wretched accomplices. 

The whole of Wednesday was spent in arming and organizing the 
men who flocked around the Town-hall, and who now, strengthened by 
the loyalists from Niagara, Hamilton, Oakville, and Port Credit, brought 
to this city by steamers and schooners, formed a very effective and 
zealous force ; indeed the city seemed as if by magic transformed into 
a vast barrack or camp, and militia-men " pride in their port, defi- 
ance in their eye " assumed the attitude of disciplined soldiers and 
marched almost with as great steadiness and order. The strength of 
the Rebels could not be accurately ascertained, it was by some esti- 
mated at 750, while others rated it at 1,500 men; probably it never 
exceeded 600 collected at any one period, though unquestionably a 
little success on their part would have greatly swelled their array — 
many of them were understood to be armed with rifles, many with 
common fowling-pieces, and others with pikes only — and it was 



294 CANADA. 

added that reinforcements were daily coming in from various dis- 
affected sections of the country. 

In the afternoon the Lieutenant-governor moved his Head- quarters 
from the Towiv hall to the Parliament buildings, and there he issued 
orders for a movement to be made early on the ensuing morning, with 
as large a force as could be spared from the town, in order to dislodge 
the Rebels from their position at Montgomery's Inn. 

The disposable force was amply sufficient for the purpose, as His 
Excellency with a most humane desire to save effusion of blood, had 
postponed the attack, until the enemy could be assailed by such 
numbers that the issue of the conflict would never be for a moment 
doubtful. 

Colonel MacNab (who had been requested at midnight by His 
Excellency to take command of a sufficient force to effect that object), 
with a friend or two, formed the plan of attack upon the rebels. It 
was determined that the centre or main body of the Loyal Militia, con- 
sisting of about 600 men with two field-pieces, should proceed up 
Yonge-street to meet the insurgents at Montgomery's Hill ; that the 
right wing, about 120 strong, under the command of Colonel Samuel 
P. Jarvis, should march on the right of Yonge-street, along the skirts 
of the wood, and take up their ground opposite the left of the hostile 
position ; that the left wing, consisting of about 200 men, commanded 
by Colonel William Chisholm of the Gore Militia, assisted by the 
Hon. Mr. Justice McLean, should march up the College Avenue and 
attack the rebels on the right. 

This plan of attack having been sanctioned, the men were drawn 
up in order of battle in the street and esplanade in front of Arch- 
deacon Strachan's house, extending far to the right and left of it. — 
About eleven o'clock, His Excellency Sir Francis Bond Head, with 
his staff, galloped up to the ground, and was received with three 
hearty cheers from the loyal men under arms. His Excellency 
immediately placed himself at the head of this force, and accom- 
panied by Colonel Fitzgibbon, acting Adjutant-general, and Colonel 
MacNab (the former as first and the latter as second in command), 
marched with them up Yonge-street, according to the previous 
arrangement. On arriving within sight of the rebels, the main body 
halted, to allow time for the right and left divisions to take up their 
positions. During this time His Excellency passed up and down the 
line, and directed the men to look to their priming, and to be ready 
to act as soon as ordered. 

After a short halt, the order to advance was given ; and both field- 
pieces, commanded by Captains Lackie and Stennett, under Major 
Carfrae of the Militia Artillery, were ordered to the front. A hot fire 



CANADA. 295 

then commenced with small arms and artillery, which soon drove 
the rebels, who returned the fire, from their position, into the adjoin- 
ing woods, when several companies from the main body were ordered 
into the woods to dislodge them, which they gallantly effected in a 
very short time. The rebels then fled in every direction, closely 
pursued by the loyalists, and had the wings of the attacking force 
reached their positions a little sooner, hardly a rebel would have 
escaped Montgomery's Inn and premises. The rendezvous of the 
rebels was immediately searched — a large table was found, set out 
with all the delicacies of the season for Mackenzie and his rebel 
crew, which was soon scattered to- the winds, and the house, aftei 
having been completely riddled was burnt to ashes, with the whole 
of the out-buildings, by the indignant Militia, who could not be 
restrained from inflicting this signal act of justice on so vile a traitor. 
The Loyalists then marched on, throwing out skirmishers to the 
right and left, seven miles farther ; a party proceeded as far as the 
house of the traitor Gibson, about ten miles from town, which was 
also consigned to the names. 

A great number of prisoners were taken and brought to His Excel- 
lency, who, being the Representative of our gracious Sovereign* 
considered that he could not have a better opportunity than was then 
offered of exhibiting that clemency which is one of the brightest attri- 
butes of Royalty, and therefore after suitable admonition and kind 
advice, lie pardoned them their treason and let them go, as they were 
evidently the dupes of their leaders. This gracious act was so unex- 
pected that many of the prisoners burst into tears, and some of them 
offered, their services in the cause of their Queen, from which they 
declared themselves to have been seduced. by that vile paper, the 
Constitution. The poison contained in that vehicle of slander and 
treason was greedily swallowed by these simple people, who seeing no 
contradiction to the falsehoods it circulated, were unprovided with an 
antidote. The loyal people of the province may however rest assured 
that hereafter traitors will be dealt with according to the rigour of the 
laws, as the day of clemency has nearly passed. 

The number of killed and wounded on the part of the rebels has 
not been fully ascertained, but it has been estimated at 50. Our loss 
only amounted to 3, slightly wounded. It was found that the rebels 
were very advantageously posted, and were between 300 and 400 strong, 
after deducting about 80 of their men detached to enter the town by the 
Don Bridge, and set it on fire. These men were fortunately repulsed 
by the guard posted at that point, but not before they had burnt down 
several houses on the estate of the late Simeon Washburn, Esq., 
adjoining the bridge. They had indeed actually fired the bridge 



296 CANADA. 

itself, but the flames were speedily extinguished by the exertions of 
the Militia. 

Several flag's were taken from Montgomery's house, one of them 
(a large red flag) bearing the following words ; viz., on one side 

"Victoria the 1st and Reform." 

And on the other, 

" Bidwell and the Glorious Majority." 
" 1837 and a good beginning." 

This flag was doubtless intended to take the place of the Royal Ensign 
which floats over the Government-house, on gaining the first victory 
and installing the first President. 

There were several other flags ; one decorated with stars, another 
with stripes, and one plain white flag, probably intended for a flag 
of truce. 

During the absence of the force sent to attack the rebels, the com- 
mand of the city was committed to Mr. Justice Maeaulay, who, as 
everybody knows, was formerly an active officer of the Glengarry 
Light Infantry, and who was busily engaged in equipping with arms 
the fresh volunteers who were continually hurrying in from the 
country. 

Our unfortunate fellow- subjects who had fallen into the hands of 
the rebels, and were kept prisoners for nearly three days, were rescued 
in the woods, after having been threatened with death by Mackenzie. 
The day before their release, some of them asked him whether matters 
between him and the Government could not be accommodated, when 
he fiercely replied, that " Nothing could satisfy him but the head of 
the Lieutenant-governor." 

After the complete route of the insurgents, the whole of the loyalists 
were formed into column, and with the splendid pair of Colours pre- 
sented by His late Majesty King George the Fourth, while Regent, 
to the Militia of Upper Canada, marched back to the city with His 
Excellency at their head, amidst the long, loud, and most enthusiastic 
cheers of the assembled multitude who thronged the line of march. 
On arriving at Parliament Buildings the men were formed into solid 
square, when they received the thanks of His Excellency, for their 
gallant conduct on that day. His Excellency addressed them at some 
length, and when he concluded, three loud cheers from the armed 
Militia demonstrated the satisfaction with which his address had been 
received. Three cheers were then given for " The Queen and our 
glorious Constitution;" when His Excellency left the ground, with, 
as we are sure, a proud consciousness of having nobly performed his 



CANADA. 29 



duty — and a confirmed reliance in the loyalty and true patriotism 
of the brave Militia of Upper Canada. 

During the whole of this eventful period, Mr. Gurnett, the Mayor 
of the City, and the members of the Corporation, acted with great 
energy and vigilance, and for their exertions the whole province owes 
them a debt of gratitude. 

The young men of Toronto, as well as several young gentlemen who 
happened to be in the city, behaved with particular gallantry. 

Just before taking the field, a proclamation was issued by the 
L?e"Utenant-governor, offering large rewards for the apprehension of 
certain of the ringleaders in this lamentable affair ; viz., Mackenzie, 
Gibson, Lount, Loyd, and Fletcher. None of them have yet been 
apprehended, but it is not likely any will escape the arm of justice. 
It is thought that Loyd was killed in the action on Thursday, but 
this is not certain. 

Dr. Rolph, a person of some note, secretly quitted the capital on 
Tuesday, and though stopped and questioned at one or two places 
along the road, effected his exit from Upper Canada; and, at the 
latest dates, was exhibiting the character of his vaunted patriotism by 
haranguing his audience at Lewiston, and exciting them to aid in the 
rebellion of which Mackenzie was the chief ostensible promoter. 

Marshal S. Bidwell, having seen the flag of the rebels, and having 
been called to an interview at the Government-house, expressed a 
desire to leave the country ; and having obtained his passports, on 
Sunday last quitted Upper Canada for ever. 

Morrison, Price, Montgomery, and other traitors of less note, are 
under arrest, and their cases will undergo a due investigation according 
to law. 

Great numbers of the Insurgents have already been taken. The 
mass of the Militia have everywhere risen in the might of an indig- 
nant and insulted people, and are determined to put down the enemies 
of their peace for ever. Had it been necessary, there can be no doubt 
that upwards of 10,000 loyalists would have been collected in Toronto 
in defence of their Government and constitution within a single week. 
Who could desire better evidence of popular sentiment on this head? 

Colonel Mac Nab has been ordered, with some of the Gore Militia, 
to march immediately to the London district, in order to inquire into, 
and put down any treasonable practices in that quarter. 

Of the 2,000 Newcastle Loyalists, who were precipitating them- 
selves into Toronto, about 200 are sent to the Niagara district, where 
arrangements will be made to check the progress of treason. 

Sir F. B. Head has also authorised the Colonels of the Militia in 
the Johnstown, Eastern, Bathurst, and Ottawa districts, to conform to 

o3 



298 CANADA. 

any requisition from Sir John Colborne for volunteers to aid in sup- 
pressing the insurrection in Lower Canada. 

He has also directed regular Militia garrisons to be provided for 
Toronto and Kingston, who are to be kept under pay until June next. 

Such, then, is the attitude which Upper Canada has assumed, at a 
moment when a desperate band of traitors attempted to involve her 
happy homes in all the horrors of civil war. Have we not reason to 
be proud of our country ? 

December 11, 1837. 

Thus ended the-fareical drama of Mackenzie's general- 
ship. He fled in female attire, and undergoing several 
hairbreadth escapes, at last safely reached the frontier 
of the United States ; in achieving which feat he must, 
at that time of the year, after a land journey of sixty or 
seventy miles, and in crossing the Niagara, have been 
well assisted by his adherents, who probably were not 
aware of the large rewards offered for his person. He 
has related some wonderful stories about his escape; 
but as in that part of a book which he published some 
years ago about Canada, where he describes his cool- 
ness, self-possession, and heroism, when a steamboat in 
which he was travelling on the St. Lawrence got lost 
in the ice and sunk, so it may be reasonably imagined 
his versions of his escape are tinctured with the same 
romance. 

I think it right to present the reader with a copy of 
the Extraordinary Gazette, published after the action 
at Gallows Hill, both as it is a curious document, and 
as it describes some of the traitors who ran away, or 
were not made prisoners at the time.* 

* Government-house, 8th Dec, 1837. 
His Excellency the Lieutenant-governor warmly thanks, in the 
name of Her Majesty the Queen, the loyal and gallant Militia of 



CANADA. 299 

There is also another circumstance which would have 
required explanation, in consequence of some grave 

Upper Canada, for their ready attention to the call of their country, 
when their services were required foj putting down a cruel and 
unnatural rebellion. 

His Excellency trusts, that the service has now been effectually 
rendered, and it only remains for him to take whatever steps may be 
necessary for the peace and security of the several districts, and to 
announce with much satisfaction, that there appears to be no further 
occasion for the resort of Militia to Toronto. 

Proclamation. 

By His Excellency Sir Francis Bond Head, Baronet, Lieutenant- 
governor of Upper Canada, &c, &c. 

To the Queen's Faithful Subjects in Upper Canada. 

In a time of profound peace, while every one was quietly following 
his occupations, feeling seeure under the protection of our laws, a 
band of rebels, instigated by a few malignant and disloyal men, has 
had the wickedness and audacity to assemble with arms, and to attack 
and murder the Queen's subjects on the highway — to burn and 
destroy their property — to rob the public mails — to threaten to 
plunder the banks — and to fire the city of Toronto. 

Brave and loyal people of Upper Canada, we have been long 
suffering from the acts and endeavours of concealed traitors, but this 
is the first time that rebellion has dared to show itself openly in the 
land, in the absence of invasion by any foreign enemy. 

Let every man do his duty now, and it will be the last time that we 
or our children shall see our lives or properties endangered, or the 
authority of our gracious Queen insulted by such treacherous and 
ungrateful men. Militia-men of Upper Canada, no country has ever 
shown a finer example of loyalty and spirit than you have given upon 
this sudden call of duty. Young and old of all ranks are flocking to 
the standard of their country. What has taken place will enable our 
Queen to know her friends from her enemies — a public enemy is 
never so dangerous as a concealed traitor : and now my friends let us 
complete well what is begun — let us not return to our rest till treason 
and traitors are revealed to the light of day, and rendered harmless 
throughout the land. 

Be vigilant, patient, and active — leave punishment to the laws — our 
first object is, to arrest and secure all those who have been guilty of 
rebellion, murder, and robbery ; and to aid us in this, a reward is 
hereby offered of One Thousand Pounds, to any one who will appre- 



300 CANADA. 

assertions on the part of the American press, that Mr. 
John Powell, a Canadian Magistrate, had committed 
murder in shooting Anderson. The persons who made 
this charge were border sympathizers, who never thought 

bend, and deliver up to justice, William Lyon Mackenzie ; and Five 
Hundred Pounds to any one who will apprehend, and deliver up to 
justice, David Gibson, or Samuel Lount, or Jesse Loyd, or Silas 
Fletcher ; and the same reward and free pardon will be given to any 
of their accomplices who will render this public service, except he or 
they shall have committed, in his own person, the crime of murder 
or arson. 

And all, but the leaders above-named, who have been seduced to 
join in this unnatural rebellion, are hereby called to return to their 
duty to their Sovereign — to obey the laws — and to live henceforward 
as good and faithful subjects — and they will find the Government of 
their Queen as indulgent as it is just. 

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN. 

Thursday, Three o'clock, p.m., 7th December. 

The party of rebels under their Chief-leaders, are wholly dispersed, 
and flying before the Loyal Militia. The only thing that remains to 
be done is to find them, and arrest them. 

Description of the above rebels. 

One Thousand Pounds Reward for the apprehension of W. Lyon 
Mackenzie. He is a short man, wears a sandy- coloured wig, has 
small twinkling eyes that can look no man in the face — he is about 
five feet four or five inches in height. 

Five Hundred Pounds Reward for David Gibson. He is about 
five feet nine or ten inches in height, red-faced, sandy hair and red 
whiskers, which curl rather closely — rather round-shouldered — speaks 
with a strong Scotch accent, age about thirty-five. 

Five Hundred Pounds Reward for Samuel Lount, a tall man, 
say six feet or rather more, long face, sallow complexion, black hair 
with some gray in it — very heavy dark eyebrows — speaks rather 
slowly. 

Five Hundred Pounds Reward for Silas Fletcher, he is about 

fifty years of age, hair has been black, but now mixed with gray — 

" speaks in a peculiar and quick manner — very quick in his motions — 

black whiskers and rather sallow complexion — about six feet in 

height, and upright. 

Five Hundred Pounds Reward for Jesse Loyd, he is rather an 



CANADA. 301 

that the subsequent assassination of Ussher* in cold 
blood by their brother sympathizers was of the slightest 
consequence or worth remark, though they should have 
known more of the rights of civilized life. They should 
have known the circumstances under which this brave 
gentleman acted, and they should have known that when 
he first heard of the atrocious murder of his venerable 
friend Colonel Moodie, that he must have been aware that 
his own life, opposed as he had ever been to Mackenzie 
and his disloyal companions, was not worth a moment's 
purchase, as soon as Anderson had made him prisoner. 
But let Mr. Powell speak for himself, and it is fortunate 
that he was persuaded to do so ; for his statement, clear, 
concise, and manly, affords the best argument that 
could have been obtained to disprove the numerous 
assertions of the border press. I found it in an old 
Number of a high Tory paper, The Toronto Patriot, 
published by the late Mr. Thomas Dalton, a man of 
singular talent, who was formerly a merchant in the town 
of St. John's, Newfoundland, where I lately resided. 
It is fortunate that I have had access to documents 

old man, say about fifty- five years of age, long straight hair rather 
thin and turning gray — stoops very much in his gait, has scarcely 
any teeth left — one remarkably prominent, which is much observed 
when he speaks, very round-shouldered, and speaks with a strong 
Yankee accent, height about five feet ten or eleven inches ; generally 
dresses in a drab or brown home- spun clothing. 

* This gentlemen resided near Chippewa, and distinguished himself 
in the Navy Island affair as a captain of Militia. He was assassi- 
nated at night by some unknown persons from the frontier of the 
United States, who knocked at his door after he was in bed, and upon 
going down to ascertain the purport of their visit, he, having a light 
with him, was shot through the side window adjoining the door. The 
perpetrators have never been discovered, but they are supposed to be 
the same persons who destroyed Brock's monument. 



302 CANADA. 

produced by both the parties, which at this crisis con- 
tended for such antagonist principles in Upper Canada, 
as one is able by coolly comparing both, after a lapse 
of some years, to arrive at sound conclusions \ and these 
are the more useful now, when Canada is in the fiery 
furnace of political strife, undergoing the purifying 
process which will, I trust, separate the base metals 
from the nobler in the composition of her Constitution. 
But to Mr. John Powell.* 

* " Toronto, Uth Feb., 1838. 

" Sir, — Having been repeatedly called upon by many of my friends, 
and now by yon, to furnish an account of the occurrence with which 
I was connected on Monday evening, 4th December, 1838, I have 
much pleasure in inclosing you a short account of what took place 
between Mr. Macdonell, the rebels, and myself. I did not intend 
this statement should ever meet the public eye, as it was written 
entirely for the satisfaction of my nearest relations. But since the 
American press has published an incorrect version of the affair, in 
which I am called a murderer, I deem it right that a true statement 
should at present be laid before the public. Before doing so, however, 
I feel it but justice to myself to state, that my going out on Yonge- 
street on that eventful night was entirely of my own accord, and that 
I was actuated solely by a sense of my duty as a Magistrate, without 
consulting with or being directed by any authority superior to my 
own; — except indeed by that merciful Providence, by whose inter- 
ference only our city was saved from destruction. 

" I remain, Sir, yours truly, 

" John Powell." 

" Mr. Thomas Dalton." 

On Monday evening, December 4th, about nine o'clock, when 
engaged at the City Hall in swearing in special constables and dis- 
tributing arms, I found, from the number of Magistrates present, 
I could be of more service in taking charge of several volunteers, who 
had assembled to patrol on horseback the approaches to the city 
during the night, for the purpose of reconnoitring the body of rebels 
said to be assembling, and more particularly those who were reported 
to be in arms on Yonge- street. Mr. A. Macdonell offered to accom- 
pany me, as I had determined to take the Yonge-street road myself. 



CANADA. 303 

Everybody likes to talk of themselves when stirring 
events are on the carpet ; and it is a harmless egotism, 

Just as I had made my arrangements, Captain Fitzgibbon, Mr. Brock, 
and Mr. Bellingham, rode up to the Hall. Captain Fitzgibbon told 
me of his intention to go out, and I said we would accompany him. 
Mr. Macdonell went home for his horse, intending to meet me on 
Yonge- street, and I rode with Captain Fitzgibbon to the foot of Yonge- 
street, where I left him to go to my own house for arms. When 
I loaded my gun, I found I had no caps, so abandoned the idea of 
taking it, and proceeded to overtake the party, having only two small 
pistols lent me by the High-bailiff, as I left the Hall. I went alone 
as far as the Sheriff 's-hill (about a mile from the city), where I met 
Captain Fitzgibbon returning alone ; he said " Brock and Bellingham 
have gone on." I came back with him as far as the toll-gate, where 
we met Macdonell coming to join us. Captain Fitzgibbon then said 
all was quiet up the street, and he would return to town. Mr. Mac- 
donell and myself agreed we would proceed up the street to overtake 
Brock and Bellingham. We were going leisurely along, when, at the 
rise of the Blue-hill, four persons on horseback met us ; we thought 
they were our friends ; but as we approached, Mackenzie himself 
advanced and ordered us to halt ; the others immediately surrounded 
us. Mackenzie was armed with a large horse-pistol ; the rest had 
rifles. Mackenzie then told us we were his prisoners. I demanded 
by what authority ? He replied, he would let us know his authority 
soon. Anderson (one of them) said, their authority was their rifles. 
Mackenzie asked us many questions as to the force in town ? what 
guard at the Governor's? and whether we expected an attack that 
night ? To all these questions I returned for answer, He might go to 
town and find out. This appeared to enrage him very much, and he 
ordered Anderson and Sheppard to march us to the rear and " Hurry 
on the men." Anderson took charge of me ; Sheppard of Macdonell. 
I went first ; Macdonell was about ten yards in the rear. Anderson 
was very abusive towards the Governor, and said he would let " Bond 
Head know something before long." I asked him of what he had to 
complain, and reasoned with him on the impropriety of their conduct. 
He replied, " They had borne tyranny and oppression too long, and 
were now determined to have a government of their own." From all 
I could gather from him, I found the rebels were then on their march 
to town for the purpose of surprising it, and that they (the four per- 
sons who took us prisoners) were the " advanced guard." Opposite 
Mr. Howard's gate a person on horseback met us ; Anderson ordered 
him to halt, and asked him who he was ? He replied, " Thompson." 



304 CANADA. 

because, if not carried too far, it helps to interest the 
reader in the perusal of dry historical details. 

I had a very fine Newfoundland-dog in my possession 
when I was ordered from Toronto to Kingston, just 

I immediately said, " Mr. Thompson, I claim your protection ; I am 
a prisoner." The person recognised my voice, and said, " Powell, 
the rebels have shot poor Colonel Moodie, and are coming on to 
town." He then put spurs to his horse, and succeeded in passing 
them; they turned round to fire, but were prevented by our both 
being between them and Brooke, who was the person we met. Upon 
this intelligence, I made up my mind, -and determined to make my 
escape at any hazard, as I felt confident the salvation of the town 
depended upon correct information being given at once. I made 
several attempts to fall back ; but Anderson, who had me, threatened 
if I attempted to escape, he would " drive a ball through me." I went 
on as far as Mr. Heath's gate, when I suddenly drew my pistol and 
fired, not being more than two feet from him ; he fell, and I instantly 
set off full speed down the street ; Macdonell did so likewise. Shep- 
pard followed, and fired; the ball passed between us. Macdonell 
was far in the advance ; I shouted to him to ride hard and give the 
alarm, as my horse would not keep up. At the Sheriff's -hill we were 
again met by Mackenzie and the other persons. Mackenzie rode 
after me and presenting his pistol at my head, ordered me to stop. 
I turned on my horse and snapped my remaining pistol in his face ; 
the pistol must have touched him, I was so near ; his horse either 
took fright, or he could not stop him, and he got some little distance 
in front of me. I drew up suddenly at Dr. Baldwin' s-road, galloped 
up about twenty yards, and then jumped off my horse and ran through 
the woods. I heard them pursue me ; lay down behind a log for a 
few minutes ; — a person on horseback was within ten yards of the 
place where I lay. I then ran down through the College-fields and 
avenue, keeping near the fence. I went immediately to Government- 
house, and after some little difficulty saw the Governor in bed. I 
related to him in a few words what had passed ; he seemed to doubt 
whether I could be certain as to Mackenzie, but at last appeared 
to take the alarm. From Government - house I proceeded to the 
City Hall. 

Macdonell was recaptured at the Toll-gate, and neither Brookes nor 
any other person arrived in town until the bells were ringing. 

Lount has told several persons that the death of Anderson alone 
prevented their coming in that night. — Toronto Patriot. 



CANADA. 305 

before the rebellion broke out. I lived in an isolated 
house on the lake shore, the only isolated house in front 
of the city, and the dog was a remarkably ferocious one ; 
and, as the beach below my garden was the constant 
resort of smugglers and idlers, I let him always loose 
after dark, to prevent access to the premises. He 
became consequently well-known, and, in more than 
one instance, seized an intruder at night. When I was 
going, I directed a butcher to sell this faithful animal to 
anybody of respectability who wanted a yard dog of 
great power and fidelity. Dr. Home, of the Bank, 
whose residence was on the Yonge-street-road, just 
outside of the city, bought him. The rebels attacked 
his house, which was valiantly defended by the dog 
after the inmates had evacuated the premises, and poor 
Carlo, who, it seemed, did not like thieves of any 
description, after fighting to the last, was consigned to 
the flames when they had set fire to the building. So 
perished a faithful servant, and it added one link to the 
chain of villanous misery which Mackenzie inflicted 
upon man and beast opposed to his demoralizing course. 
He burnt Dr. Home's house, because he was cashier of 
the Upper Canada Bank, which they were on the way 
to plunder, the treasury money for the payment of the 
troops having been deposited in its vaults. He burnt 
my old servant Carlo because he defended his new 
master's property. I had afterwards the distinction of 
being with Sir Francis Head and others inscribed on 
his fatal roll, — on that roll which was to decimate Upper 
Canada. But he was not going to burn me ; no, I, with 
some hundreds of men, better or worse as it may be 
than myself, were merely to be hung. Perhaps the 



306 CANADA. 

eoncoctors of that fatal roll thought with the Persian 
officers, who were at Woolwich some years ago for their 
military education. I must tell the story, for when I 
get into a story-telling humour, I am very apt to follow 
Sterne's example of digressing, Jbut then, readers, 
recollect, if you please, I am writing in the dull depth 
of winter, and, like a Siberian exile, recollections will 
force themselves across me of brighter climes and of 
more varied life. Here, for several months, breakfast, 
luncheon, dinner, official business, composition, a walk 
in the snow or in the slop, and sleep, embrace the 
twenty-four hours, of which eight only may absolutely 
be said to be passed in the light of day. Well, there 
were three Persian officers studying at Woolwich when 
I was last quartered there. They were named Mirza 
Eeza, or Iza, Mirza Jaffa, and Mirza Sala. One was an 
artillery, one an engineer, and the other a medical 
officer. They were diligent, became acquainted with 
the English language, customs, and policy, besides 
many other things which we outer barbarians know, and 
which the brothers of the sun and moon seldom 
dream of. 

Like all persons obtaining a smattering of knowledge, 
my friends became a little too inquisitive about Divine 
right, and other abstract questions, concerning royalty, 
not very likely to please the Shah. In short, they 
leaped too soon from absolute darkness into a blaze of 
light, and the glare was great for their weak eyes. 

We were discussing one day the probable effect their 
knowledge would have upon their countrymen when 
they returned, and whether His Royal Highness the 
king of kings would relish their being wiser than 



CANADA. 



307 



himself, and how the muftis and the cadis would 
take it. 

Ignorance is always envious, a maxim older than the 
Koran, and they thought it not unlikely they might 
be envied. 

" Supposing that to happen, what would be the 
result?" 

" Oh I" said the Artilleryman and the Doctor, " the 
bowstring or the scimetar settles all these little differ- 
ences in Persia," 

" Ah, but," slily observed the Engineer, " I wear the 
green turban ; they can only put out my eyes." 

Reader, the green turban denotes, all over Mahomet- 
dom, a descendant of the Prophet. 

Well then, you will say, What has this to do with 
Sir Francis Head, Mackenzie, and yourself ? I answer 
meekly, as Mirza Sala did, I suppose he thought 
burning too great a punishment for any man con- 
nected with literature which he aspired to be thought 
a fellow- commoner of, and therefore he graciously com- 
muted the sentence in the cases of Sir Francis, myself, 
and other educated persons, to hanging. If he had 
been caught, as the reader will find he was twice very 
nearly afterwards, I am afraid literature would not 
have saved him from the vengeance of his insulted 
country, although I was by no means aware, until long- 
afterwards, that I was, with excellent company, an 
humble name on his proscribed lists. 

But to return to a more worthy theme. Toronto 
having now been placed in security by the simultaneous 
march of 10,000 or 12,000 Militia-men from the New- 
castle, Gore, Home, Niagara, Eastern, and other 



308 CANADA. 

districts towards it, some from the distance of 200 
miles, in the middle of a Canadian winter, unprovided 
with the means of transport, bedding, or warm clothes ; 
such was their loyal zeal, Sir Francis Head turned his 
attention towards the assistance of the Commander-in- 
chief in Lower Canada, by directing the Militia of 
Glengarry and the eastern districts of Upper Canada, to 
join the army. He also authorized me, as I have 
already said, to raise any force that might be requisite 
for the security of Kingston, the key of the province, 
and he placed a garrison in the fort at Toronto. But 
Dr. Duncombe, ex-member of the Provincial Parlia- 
ment, a person who has already been named, had got 
up a farcical show of rebellion in the London district, 
where he had been extremely active in spreading dis- 
affection amongst that portion of the settlers, whose 
equivocal loyalty had been noticed as early as in the 
time of the first Governor Simcoe. 

Colonel M'Nab, of the Gore Militia, was therefore 
ordered to march with 500 Militiamen and Volunteers 
against this vapouring chief. This service was per- 
formed in the most satisfactoiy manner by the gallant 
Speaker of the House of Assembly ; and suffice it to 
observe, that Dr. Duncombe left his deluded followers 
as soon as he found himself in danger; but some 
singular and treasonable correspondence and papers 
were discovered, and the snake of rebellion in the 
London district was scotched, but not killed. 

I think it due to the loyal and most excellent Militia 
of Upper Canada, that before I go further into the 
doings of that eventful period, I should tell the British 
reader of facts which came under my immediate notice, 



CANADA. 309 

although I run the risk of being accused of making 
them the vehicle to bring myself into the tableau, I 
am now too old, however, to care much on that score. 

Such was the enthusiasm excited by the daring 
attempts of Papineau and Bidwell, that I have no doubt 
whatever that, at one time, forty thousand British 
Canadians were in arms to uphold the power of the 
Queen. 

Sir Francis Head has observed, in his " Narrative," 

that he was obliged to send the volunteers, who arrived 

in shoals at Toronto, back to their homes ; and that 

ten or twelve thousand brave fellows marched to assist 

him there from all points of the compass. So it was at 

Kingston. I recollect perfectly that after consulting 

with the indefatigable Magistrates there, as to the best 

mode of securing the town from enemies within and 

without ; for there were always plenty of American 

sympathizers from the frontiers, in the taverns and 

lodging-houses, and in the neighbouring country places ; 

that although they met at a late hour at night, after 

my receiving the despatch by the Traveller steamboat, 

before midnight the inhabitants were armed, patrolled 

the streets, cut off all connection with the frontier and 

back country, and were organized most effectually. In 

the course of twenty-four hours afterwards, or as soon 

as the news of the attack upon Toronto was known, 

Militiamen poured into Kingston, the fort and 

barracks and batteries were occupied, and the immense 

depot of ordnance stores, of provisions, gunpowder, 

arms, camp equipage, money, &c, was placed in perfect 

security; and to show their zeal, the lake front of 

Kingston, a most extended and open line, was patrolled, 



310 CANADA. 

occupied and sealed securely, notwithstanding the 
rigour of the climate. In short, on the 18th of 
December, only seven days after the despatch had 
arrived, dated at midnight on the 4th of December, 
1837, announcing that Toronto was about to be 
attacked, I found myself at the head of the undermen- 
tioned permanently-constituted corps for the defence of 
Kingston : — the 1st and 2nd Erontenac Infantry Regi- 
ments ; the 1st and 2nd Addington Infantry Regi- 
ments ; the Queen* s Marine Artillery, officered by 
officers of the Royal Navy, or by the captains of the 
lake steam vessels, and composed of a fine and most 
formidable body of sailors, who were clothed uniformly 
in blue pilot-cloth frocks, reaching to the knees, blue 
trowsers, and a large fur cap, with belt and bayonet, 
pistols and light muskets, with a proportion of cutlasses 
and boarding-pikes. The non-commissioned officers 
distinguished by white anchors on the arm. They 
composed four companies, or stations of fifty men each, 
commanded by a captain and a first and second lieu- 
tenant ; the whole under an officer of the Navy, Lieu- 
tenant Harper, w r ho had the rank of Major. The very 
appearance of these fine fellows, who soon became 
adepts in the field-gun and heavy ordnance exercises, 
and could take their share of garrison infantry duties, 
was a source of much uneasiness to the sympathizers, 
who " guessed they were ugly customers/'' This corps 
occupied the block houses, the lake batteries, and 
had charge of the approach to the town by the ice. 
The severity of the services they had to perform may 
be imagined by the military reader, when I say that 
the channel in front of Kingston is four miles across, 



CANADA, 311 

and presents after Christmas, usually, one unbroken 
sheet of ice, with the thermometer frequently below 
zero, and descending sometimes to twenty-seven 
degree minus that point. They built a snow, breast- 
work, connecting Point Frederick battery with Missis- 
sagua Point battery, on the ice ; and thus kept up a 
constant line of night picquets, as it were, under cover 
of fortifications made of ice and snow. 

The Frontenac Light Dragoons, under Captain 
Wilson, a very handsomely mounted and well-equip- 
ped corps, — provided by themselves with a blue 
uniform, faced with buff, and bearskin helmet, — con- 
sisted of one captain, one lieutenant, one cornet, quar- 
termaster, troop -serjeant -major, and eighty men, who 
were chiefly young heroes of the town. The efficiency 
of this well-regulated troop soon evinced itself. They 
were posted at different assailable positions round the 
town at night, and ten of them were told off to form a 
portion of the line of despatch from Montreal to 
Toronto, a distance of nearly 400 miles. 

The Frontenac and Addington Infantry I shall have 
occasion to speak of again. They were clothed by 
Government in a uniform excellently adapted to a 
Canadian winter campaign. It consisted of a flannel 
red shirt, a pair of mittens, or woollen gloves without 
fingers, a strong pair of boots, with iron creepers, or 
ice pattens, a pair of gray trowsers, and a light gray 
great coat, over which the bayonet and pouch-belt was 
worn, a light musket, and a warm fur-cap. These 
excellent men were soon taught the infantry exercise 
and manoeuvres under two able officers, Captain 
Cameron and Lieutenant Bate, my adjutants, and who 



312 CANADA. 

had both been distinguished non-commissioned officers 
in the line, and thus they were able, in less than two 
months, to go through many evolutions with the utmost 
steadiness and precision. 

This, with the undermentioned garrison-staff, was the 
first permanent Militia garrison of the most important 
place in Upper Canada : 

Two Adjutants, — Captain Cameron, formerly of 
79th Highlanders ; Lieutenant Bate, formerly of 66th 
Regiment. 

Quartermaster, — Thomas Campbell, formerly ser- 
jeant-major of 79th Highlanders, a man who had 
signalized himself at Waterloo, and had three medals. 

Paymaster, — Captain Nickalls, 1st Prontenac, after- 
wards Clerk of the Peace at Kingston. 

Surgeon, — Dr. Baker, 1st Prontenac. 

Assistant-surgeon, — Dr. Robinson. 

Orderly Officer and Staff-adjutant, — Captain Bonny- 
castle, 3rd Prince Edward Infantry. 

Two staff serjeant-majors, two staff quartermaster- 
serjeants. 

This record of the Militia garrison of Kingston is 
more dwelt upon, because that city was lately the 
capital of Canada, and it will be grateful to the 
citizens. 

Such was the nucleus from which, in a short time 
afterwards, the garrison became a permanent one ; and, 
to do justice to all, I have copied (page 314) one of 
the returns kept on purpose, which will be a pleasing 
memento to many a family and person around and in 
that rising city. 



CANADA. 313 

Besides the corps enumerated, the Leeds Militia, the 
Lanark, and several others from the Johnstown and 
Prince Edward Districts occasionally were in garrison, 
and many were obliged to return home for want of 
room; in short, as at Toronto, many regiments and 
detachments of Militia and Volunteers were turned 
back on the march or sent home for want of adequate 
accommodation in the barracks and in the town. 

The whole months of December, 1837, part of 
January, and the latter end of February, 1838, were 
in fact occupied by the continual influx and reflux of 
the brave Yeomanry of the Eastern, Midland, Prince 
Edward, and Hastings Militia, who, on the first alarm 
left their homes to rally round Old England's flag, 
and the usually quiet streets and neighbourhood of 
Kingston now echoed day and night, either to the tread 
of marching men, to the neighing of the eager steed, or 
to the war-notes of the drum and the trumpet, the roar- 
ing of the cannon, the sullen boom of the mortar, and 
the awful hissing and rending noise of the Congreve 
rocket, that terrible weapon so well adapted to clear 
an expanse of ice. 



VOL. i. 



314 



CANADA. 



Return of the Effective Militia and Volunteer Force at Kingston, 

Royal Engineers, 



Description of Force. 



Field 
Officers. 



CA.VALRY. 

Frontenac Light Dragoons 

1st and 2nd Addington Light Dragoons 
1st Hastings Light Dragoons 

ARTILLERY. 

Queen's Marine Artillery 

Perth Artillery 

INFANTRY. 

1st and 2nd Frontenac 

2nd and 3rd Prince Edward 

1st and 2nd Addington 

2nd Lenox 

Belleville Rifles 

Total 

WARRIORS. 

Mohawks 

Militia and Indian Total 

MILITIA VOLUNTEERS AND INDEPEN- 
DENT COMPANIES. 

Capt. Cameron's, Long Island 

Capt. Saunders, opposite Hickory Island 
Capt. Matthewson's Kingston Mills and 

Locks of Rideau , 

Capt.' Spencer's, Capt. Dorland's, and 

Capt. M'Neil's 

Capt. M'Annany, 2nd Hastings, on line 

of road to back Townships ,_. 

Capt. M'Kenzie, 2nd Hastings, ditto . . . 

Town-guard Volunteers . .. 

Detachment at Napanee ; 

Ditto at Waterloo 

Total under arms for defence of Kingston 
Add regular Militia and Indians . . 



Leader. 
1 



Capts. 



Subalts. 



26 



Chiefs. 
3 



29 



1 
1 

1 

3 

1 

1 
3 

1 



— 


6 


1 


1 


12 


14 


3 


29 


49 



41 



63 



With a chain of express Dragoons and small outposts of 31 

92 warriors, 1668 rank 



CANADA. 



315 



Upper Canada, under the command of Lieutenant-col. Bonnycastle, 
March 1st, 1838. 







Rank 








Serjnts. 


and 
File. 


Horses. 


Rematks. 




3 


74 


81 


Capt. T. Wilson. 




9 


92 


107 


fCapt Fralick, 1st Addington. 
\Capt Clark, 2nd ditto. 












1 


10 


12 


Lieutenant Fralick. 




4 


174 


1 


Major Harper. 

Capt. Clark, R.N., Capt Taylor, R.N., 
Capt. Bowen, Capt. Tildesley, R.N. 




2 


42 


— 


Capt. Graham. 




25 


302 


5 


1st Frontenac, Major D. J. Smith. 
Capt. Macfarlane, Capt. Meagher, 
Capt Askew, 2nd Frontenac, Capt. 
Beach, Capt. M'Gregor. 




7 


69 


— 


Capt. Young and Capt Dougall. 




11 


126 


— 


Capt. Lockwood, Clarke, and Wheeler. 




2 


31 


— 


Capt Frazer. 




2 


45 


— 


Capt. Murney, served at GananoquL 




78 


1154 


206 






Warriors 




Capt. Perth Leader. 




— 


70 


— 


11 more detached to Ganancqui. 




78 


1224 


206 




2 


40 




Long Island Militia. 




2 


45 


— 


3rd Frontenac. 




1 


30 


— 


3rd Frontenac. 




3 


100 


— 


1st and 2nd Lenox. 




2 


50 





Prince Edward Militia. 




2 


45 




Ditto ditto. 




— 


100 


— 


Major Sampson. 




1 


12 


— 


Napanee Militia, 2nd Lenox, Capt. and 
Major M'Pherson. 




| ' — 


12 


— 


1st Frontenac. 




13 


434 







78 


1234 

t 


: 206 


i 




92 


1668 


206 



men, making altogether 108 officers, 1 Indian leader, 3 chiefs, 
and file, and 226 horses. 



END OF VOL. I. 



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